towards rear, ridden over 2f out, some headway over 1f out, never reached leaders
held up, driven along over 4f out, never dangerous
held up, ridden and headway when not much room over 2f out until over 1f out, one pace
mid-division and raced keen, weakened and tailed off from over 2f out
tracked leaders, one pace final furlong
tracked leader, disputed lead over 2f out until over 1f out, weakening when slightly hampered inside final furlong
chased leaders, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
prominent, weakened 2f out, soon eased
mid-division, led over 2f out, headed final furlong, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, no impression final furlong
led and raced keen, headed over 3f out, soon weakened
held up, headway and not much room over 2f out, led final furlong, driven out
Nonrunner
Favourites have a very poor recent record in this race, but Hits Only Vic can defy the stats to land a four-timer, while Cotton Eyed Joe and La Vecchia Scuola are obvious dangers. The selection is stepped up in class here after hosing up to complete his hat-trick at Ripon last week. He has not yet been tried on soft ground but it was on the slow side of good at Ripon and his American dirt pedigree gives plenty of hope that he will handle it. A 6lb penalty again does not look insurmountable after he was heavily eased last time and he looks the one to be on. Cotton Eyed Joe stayed on well to win at Doncaster earlier in the month and does handle cut in the ground, so from a 4lb higher mark he has to be a contender. La Vecchia Scuola has to give weight away all around and handles cut but looks weighted up to the hilt now. Hue will like ground conditions but perhaps wants a bit further than this, and Harry The Hawk may be a better propostion. Charlotte Vale needs a career best but can get competitive on ground she handles, while Key Decision needs to show that he can act on the surface. A very tricky looking contest then, but Hits Only Vic could still be a handicap blot and is taken to go in again.
La Vecchia Scuola (IRE) 2-1fav (8-8) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden and effort over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Tifernati (9-4) at Hamilton 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (2) gf.
Nur Tau (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Towards rear, pushed along over 4f, some late headway, never reached challenging position, 6th of 10, 8l behind Coyote Creek (8-9) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcap (4) gd in May.
Bazart 20-1 (9-7) Soon ridden, raced wide, headed over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Step This Way (8-10) at York 1m 4f ldy rds hcp (3) gd.
Wind Star 20-1 (8-11) Behind, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 18, 4 1/2l behind Humble Opinion (9-3) at York 1m 2f hcap (3) gd in May.
Key Decision (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Held up, headway 2f out, ridden to go 2nd entering final furlong, kept on, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Bajan Parkes (9-4) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Cotton Eyed Joe (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon edged left, stayed on under pressure, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gs beating Red Wine (8-5) by a nk, 13 ran.
Clueless 22-1 (10-0) Behind, ridden over 4f out, some headway final 2f, never nearer, 10th of 15, 13l behind Suits Me (9-13) at Doncaster 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Hue 11-4 (8-10) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, soon hung right, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Record Breaker (9-7) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Olimpo (FR) 14-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, led 7f out, quickened up over 3f out, fading when headed over 1f out, 6th of 8, 7l behind Ross Moor (8-7) at Sandown 1m 2f hcap (4) gs.
Sin City 8-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on until no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 2l behind Tifernati (9-4) at Hamilton 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (2) gf.
Charlotte Vale 4-1 (9-6) Tracked leader, led over 3f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Hatton Flight (9-7) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) frm.
Hits Only Vic (USA) 8-11fav (9-4) Held up, smooth headway over 3f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, kept on well, won at Ripon 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gd beating Demolition (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Inspirina (IRE) 7-2 (9-9) Held up behind leaders, effort over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Naughty Thoughts (8-6) at York 1m 4f app hcp (4) gf.
Harry The Hawk 7-4fav (11-0) Towards rear, smooth headway over 2f out, ridden to challenge approaching final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Crossbow Creek (11-10) at York 1m 4f hcap (4) gd in May.
Lochiel 10-1 (8-10) Close up on outside, driven and outpaced over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 13l behind Tifernati (9-4) at Hamilton 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (2) gf.
Know The Law 16-1 (9-0) Held up, ridden 3f out, soon struggling, 5th of 7, 4l behind Valrhona (9-7) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Royal Amnesty 11-2 (8-7) Held up, towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 6, 14l behind Record Breaker (9-7) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
