chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in mid-division, headway and switched sharply right inside final 2f, ran on under pressure inside final furlong, went 3rd post
tracked leaders, ridden to lead entering final furlong, ran on well
held up towards rear, headway near side over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
held up towards rear, headway when not clear run and switched right inside final furlong, finished well into 2nd last strides, not reach winner
chased leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, lost 2nd inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
chased leaders, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, plugged on again inside final furlong
steadied start, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, plugged on inside final furlong, never going pace to threaten
mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, weakening when slightly hampered inside final 2f entering final 2f
always in rear
held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, plugged on inside final furlong, never going pace to get involved
slowly into stride, took keen hold and soon chased leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, hung right to far rail and weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along and every chance 2f out, still pressing leaders inside final furlong, no extra in closing stages
pulled hard, chased leader, led halfway until over 2f out, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
slight lead until halfway, remained prominent and every chance 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
pulled hard and prominent, every chance 2f out, soon ridden, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, eased
chased leaders, 2nd and every chance inside final furlong, one pace and lost two places last strides
behind most of way
keen in mid-division, plugged on inside final furlong, never going pace to get involved
Richard Hughes rode the winner of this in 2014 and now trains The Big Lad, unbeaten in three starts on the all-weather but upped in class off a 6lb higher mark for this. Merhoob was beaten in a higher grade last time though got the better of GOLD CLUB at Chelmsford before that. But that was the latter’s first start since September and he may well reverse running on slightly better terms today. Dominium went close at Kempton recently but has just the one win on Turf in 18 attempts while the veteran Light From Mars ended a long losing run when dead-heating for first at Kempton.
The Big Lad 11-8fav (9-6) Badly hampered over 5f out, tracked leaders racing keenly, went 2nd over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at Kempton 6f hcp (5) pol in Mar beating Quintus Cerialis (9-6) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Merhoob (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) Close up, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Gentlemen (9-6) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (3) pol in May.
Normandy Barriere (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, never going pace to threaten, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Dinneratmidnight (9-4) at Pontefract 6f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Gold Club 10-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear and keen, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Merhoob (9-4) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (4) pol in Apr.
Intisaab 7-1 (9-3) Chased leaders far side group, went 2nd over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 8th of 17, 9 1/2l behind Dandyleekie (8-13) at Ripon 6f hcp (4) hvy in Apr.
Doctor Parkes 33-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, lost place over 2f out, 11th of 14, 7 1/2l behind Munfallet (9-7) at Leicester 6f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Dominium (USA) 16-1 (8-13) In touch on inside, headway on inside over 2f out, soon ridden and every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 11, 1/4l behind Stellarta (9-1) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Light From Mars 8-1 (9-7) Held up in touch, headway to challenge over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, hd behind Burning Blaze (9-5) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Sunraider (IRE) 11-1 (9-4) Held up, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 5th of 11, 5 3/4l behind Dinneratmidnight (9-4) at Pontefract 6f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Vincentti (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden on outside over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 8l behind Star Fire (9-2) at Lingfield 6f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Magical Daze 9-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders on outside, outpaced 2f out, soon ridden, behind final furlong, last of 5, 8l behind Heartsong (9-9) at Brighton 6f hcp fll (5) gd in Sep.
Harwoods Star (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon no impression, faded final furlong, 4th of 6, 8l behind Street Force (9-7) at Southwell 7f hcp (4) pol in Apr.
Picket Line 11-4 (9-6) Tracked leader, every chance over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Mr Christopher (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Mr Christopher (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Mid-division headway on inside over 1f out, soon switched right to challenge, led inside final furlong, edged left closing stages, ran on well, won at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (5) pol in Apr beating Picket Line (9-6) by 2l, 9 ran.
Noble Deed 6-1 (9-6) Held up, headway over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Picket Line (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Bahamian Sunrise 16-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Equally Fast (9-4) at Lingfield 5f hcp (4) pol in Apr.
Regal Parade 17-2 (9-7) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no impression on leaders, 6th of 11, 3 3/4l behind Picket Line (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Until Midnight (IRE) 5-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, not clear run and switched right over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, no impression with winner, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Pour La Victoire (8-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp (3) pol in Feb.
Feeling Easy (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, last of 6, 9 3/4l behind Pretty Bubbles (9-3) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp fll (4) pol in Apr.
Koptoon 6-4 (9-12) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, not pace of winner, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Anonymous Lady (9-11) at Ayr 5f hcp (5) gf in Apr.
Salvatore Fury (IRE) 11-1 (9-6) Held up behind, not clear run 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final frulong, not reach leaders, 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Surewecan (8-13) at Musselburgh 7f hcp (5) gf in Apr.
Mickey Haller (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Went right start, raced keenly, chased leaders, not clear run on inside over 2f out until over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Hakam (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Apr.
