in touch, pushed along and outpaced over 5f out, soon no impression
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
towards rear, ridden and some headway over 3f out, soon struggling
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, led inside final furlong, soon headed, no extra towards finish
held up towards rear, ridden over 4f out, some headway over 3f out, weakened final 2f
held up in touch, ridden 3f out, one pace final furlong
held up, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened 2f out
in touch, ridden and headway over 2f out, led well inside final furlong, kept on
slowly away, always towards rear
led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace
in touch, ridden well over 2f out, soon weakened
soon behind, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, ran on well inside final furlong to take 2nd towards finish
St Petersburg can gain another course and distance victory, with Always Esteemed, Unshakable, Audience and Take A Bow all likely challengers. This looks a wide-open affair, but with the ground once again expected to prove a key factor, St Petersburg, who only has a four-pound rise to overcome for a win in similar company here last month, should go close. His earlier success at Pontefract was also gained in soft ground. Always Esteemed coped with the ground when a close second at Sandown in April but has his fair share of weight, and meets his conqueror that day, Unshakable, on the same terms. Audience has failed to win so far this year but took on much better company as a juvenile and could bounce back with a good run if handling the conditions, and Take A Bow lines up in top form and appears to be well treated. He too could make his presence felt before taking a much bigger rise in the weights, but for the winner we return to St Petersburg.