held up mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakend over 2f out, eased final furlong
held up, ridden over 3f, soon weakened
held up, headway over 3f out, not much room and switched right entering final furlong, stayed on well inside last
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakend inside final furlong
prominent, led after 2f, ridden and headed 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up mid-division, ridden 3f out, no impression approaching final furlong
always behind and keen
held up, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
led for 2f, chased leader, ridden to lead again 2f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace
took keen hold, held up behind, some headway over 2f out, never dangerous
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong
towards rear, effort over 3f, never dangerous
held up in mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, every chance inside last, one pace towards finish
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, switched left inside last, stayed on towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f, weakened over 2f
slowly away, in rear, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, ridden and some headway over 3f out, weakened final 2f
held up, in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened final 2f
Nonrunner
There is a large turnout here, but Maraakeb can pay to support ahead of Torinmorr, Spring Jim, Danelor and Nightspot. Fitness will be all important, and with that in mind Maraakeb should hold solid claims. John Gosden's four-year-old showed potential when opening his account at Sandown last September and showed that he had trained on when scoring well at Newbury last time. He could be named the winner a long way out so had obviously come on a ton for his Pontefract reappearance. This move up a grade should not therefor be a problem for the son of Rawyaan. He has a fitness edge over Torinmoor whose last run was when a beaten favourite at Newmarket in August. He led the far side group before fading behind Border Castle that day and should pay his way in due course. Spring Jim was quite consistent last term and was not beaten far at Sandown on his final start in September. If fit enough, he could be in the shake-up, while Danelor, who made all at Pontefract, is another for the short-list. Jath has it to do under topweight, and Go Tech, who flopped in the November Handicap, is best watched but will pay to keep in mind. Maraakeb looked the part at Newbury though and it is hard to see him not being involved in the finish.
Jath 66-1 Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well under pressure final furlong to lead close home, won at Ripon 1m 2f stk hvy in Apr beating St Andrews by a nk, 7 ran.
Go Tech 20-1 Towards rear, never dangerous, 18th of 24, 45l behind Carte Diamond at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-110 (B1) sft in Nov.
Torinmoor (USA) 10-3fav Tracked leader, went far side 7f out, led group, clear 5f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Border Castle at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (C) gs in Aug.
Maraakeb (FR) 11-2jt-fav Held up in mid-division, smooth headway on outside over 2f out, led inside final 2f, ridden and ran on well, won at Newbury 1m 2f hcp gs in Apr beating True Companion by 2 1/2l, 18 ran.
Danelor (IRE) 15-2 Made all, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on, won at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp gs in Mar beating Shahzan House by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Wiggy Smith 9-2 Hampered start, held up, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, effort over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Ofaraby at Yarmouth 1m 2f stk (C2) sft in Oct.
Higher State 14-1 Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 19l behind Pentecost at Thirsk 1m stk sft in Apr.
African Sahara (USA) 100-1 Held up last, ridden over 3f out, one pace and never dangerous, 7th of 8, 13l behind Hurricane Alan at Sandown 1m Grp 2 gs in Apr.
Nightspot 13-2 Tracked winner until over 2f out, weakened and soon eased, last of 11, 28l behind Nordwind at Epsom 1m 4f 3yo hcp (D2) gd in Sept.
Finished Article (IRE) 20-1 Always behind, 13th of 17, 10l behind Flint River at Kempton 7f hcp gs in Apr.
Spring Jim 4-1 Held up, headway and hung right from 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, took 2nd last stride, not reach winner, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Top Spec at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp (D2) gd in Sept.
Red Birr (IRE) 16-1 Soon led, ridden and headed 3f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 20l behind Lochbuie at Goodwood 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-95 (C) gf in Jul.
Polish Corridor 4-1 Mid-division, pushed along over 5f out, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f, stayed on final furlong, not quicken, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Pagan Sky at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (C) gf in Sept '03.
Our Teddy (IRE) 16-1 Broke well, settled in rear, headway final furlong, nearest finish, 7th of 12, 8l behind Kabeer at Lingfield 1m hcp (D2) pol in Mar.
St Savarin (FR) 20-1 Keen, in touch, went 2nd over 5f out, led over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, carried left by loose horse towards finish, won at Haydock 1m 3f hcp sft in Apr beating Another Choice by 2l, 12 ran.
McQueen (IRE) 10-1 Held up in touch, weakened 3f out, 16th of 17, 44l behind Compton Drake at Warwick 1m 3f hcp gs in Mar.
Top Spec (IRE) 14-1 Slowly into stride, behind, pushed along 4f out, never dangerous, 12th of 18, 12l behind Maraakeb at Newbury 1m 2f hcp gs in Apr.
Oldenway 12-1 Reared and unseated rider start unseated rider in race won by St Savarin at Haydock 1m 3f hcp sft in Apr, 12 ran.
Ouninpohja (IRE) 10-11fav Mid-division, ridden over 4f out, kept on from over 3f out to lead over 1f out, ran on final furlong, won at Ayr 1m 2f mdn stk (E3) gs in Oct beating Young Rooney by 4l, 13 ran.
Aperitif 13-2 Held up, weakened final 2f, 9th of 10, 26l behind Zilch at Newcastle 7f hcp sft in Apr.
