held up in touch, pushed along 3f out, weakened quickly over 2f out
never travelling, always in rear, reminders before half way, left behind final 3f, tailed off and eased
soon got over from wide draw, made virtually all, joined and strongly pressed from 2f out, hard driven and kept on gamely final furlong to assert final 100 yards
held up towards rear, pushed along and no real headway from over 2f out
raced on outer, rear of mid-division, headway from 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out to force dead heat for 3rd, on post
held up in touch, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
held up well in rear, still plenty to do 2f out, headway final 1f, never reached leaders
chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, switched left approaching 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to reach front pair and joined for 3rd post
chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, disputing 3rd 2f out, weakened final 1f and eased
chased winner, strong challenge and upsides from 2f out, still every chance final 1f, until found no extra and held final 100 yards
LAST THREE MINUTES can get it right this time and is preferred to Fanjura and Full Speed. The two at the top of the weights are classy sorts but have questions to answer as does turf maiden Pinch Of Salt. William Blake is capable but hasn't tasted success since winning his first three starts and remains opposable until setting the record straight. Full Speed ran no race at Pontefract but the run is best ignored with his yard firing in the winners this week and the market may be revealing. Mountain Pride is rather hit or miss and was the latter when fourth behind Fanjura at Sandown; there may be more to come from the winner but there will need to be. Resurge and Vainglory will find life tougher in this company but there are no such qualms regarding the progressive Last Three Minutes. He's rather frustrating as he needs to come from off the pace so needs his share of luck. He didn't get that at Newmarket on a day when nothing was winning from off the pace and the run is best forgotten. He's struggled at this track in the past which is a concern but he's in better form now and Richard Hughes could be the ideal partner for Last Three Minutes.
Malt Or Mash (USA) 33-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, ridden inside final 3f, no headway when tightened up 2f out, soon weakened, 14th of 15, 36l behind Red Merlin (8-10) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (2) gf.
Wise Dennis 11-2 (9-2) Slowly into stride; mid-division; ridden 500m out; one pace, 7th of 12, 8l behind Furnace (9-2) at Nad Al Sheba(UAE) 1m cond Stakes gd in Feb.
Fanjura (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, driven along over 2f out, headway and switched right to chase leaders over 1f out, squeezed through inside final furlong, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, won at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gd beating Greylami (9-4) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Pinch of Salt (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Held up, ridden 4f out, soon beaten, 6th of 10, 16l behind Ajhar (9-9) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Mountain Pride (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Mid-division, headway on outside to track leader 2f out, soon ridden, weakened into 4th when slightly hampered inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 9l behind Fanjura (9-7) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Resurge (IRE) 9-4 (10-0) Held up, headway over 2f out, chased winner final furlong and stayed on under pressure but always held, 2nd of 8, nk behind The Cayterers (9-11) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Last Three Minutes (IRE) 3-1fav (9-13) Held up in last place, headway when not clear run and short of room 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, 6th of 11, 4l behind Dancourt (8-8) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Vainglory (USA) 4-1fav (9-7) Disputed lead, led narrowly over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon outpaced by winner, kept on well for 2nd, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind The Cayterers (9-1) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jun.
Full Speed (GER) 15-2 (10-0) In touch, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 8, 21l behind Fastnet Storm (9-1) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jun.
William Blake 9-1 (9-9) Tracked winner, ridden 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 15, 10l behind Cool Strike (8-6) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
