slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and struggling halfway
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
chased leaders, led well over 1f out, driven out
slowly into stride, took keen hold in mid-division, headway 3f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, not much room over 2f out, switched right 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer
steadied start, soon in mid-division, pushed along 4f out, weakened over 2f out
led early, chased leader until ridden over 2f out, slightly hampered over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
chased leaders, lost place halfway, stayed on same pace final furlong
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, ran on
soon led, headed well over 1f out, soon edged right, weakening when hampered inside final furlong
chased leaders over 4f
always prominent, took keen hold, every chance over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
Nonrunner
Musaalem has won on both his outings to date and is taken to win again in the opener at the expense of Big Noise and Pacific Pride. The selection broke his maiden tag first time of asking at Warwick last season and was impressive when scoring on his seasonal reappearance at Yarmouth last month. He was obviously a little backward last year but he looks sure to establish himself this season as a four year old and is therefore a horse to keep on the right side of. Big Noise on the other hand developed into a nice three year old last season winning on his debut at Yarmouth before winning another two handicaps at Newmarket. As a result he crept up the weights and was unable to win off a mark of 88 on his first outing of this season. That said he may strip fitter this time out so any market support should be noted. Pacific Pride is well exposed now but did manage to get his head back in front at Ripon on his penultimate run only to disappoint at Haydock off a two pound higher mark so is not one to trust with your last penny. So for the winner we return to Musaalem.
Steenberg (IRE) 20-1 (8-4) In touch, one pace from over 1f out, 8th of 12, 5l behind Turnkey (8-1) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Apr.
Big Noise 6-4fav (9-2) Held up in touch, improved to chase winner well over 2f out until over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Plum Pudding (9-4) at Newmarket 7f hcap (3) gf in May.
King's Bastion (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden and ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in May beating Jake The Snake (9-0) by a shd, 13 ran.
Compton's Eleven 9-2jt-fav (9-3) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, one pace, 9th of 11, 3l behind Seamus Shindig (8-8) at Salisbury 6f hcap (4) gf in May.
Musical Beat 12-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 8th of 11, 4l behind Society Music (8-11) at Thirsk 1m hcap (4) gf in Sept.
Cornus 14-1 (9-4) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 6l behind Handsome Falcon (8-5) at Newcastle 7f hcap (4) gf in May.
Pacific Pride 5-1 (8-13) Close up, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 10l behind Obe Gold (9-3) at Haydock 6f hcap (4) gf in May.
Moonlight Man 50-1 (8-8) Held up, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 9, 41l behind Fondled (8-9) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gs in May.
Countdown 14-1 (8-10) Dwelt, soon mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, held when not much room towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Southandwest (9-4) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in May.
Carnivore 10-1 (9-0) Led after 1f, shaken up 2f out, headed inside final furlong, weakened final 100 yards, 5th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Atlantic Story (9-3) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Lap of Honour (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, weakened quickly over 3f out, soon tailed off, last of 9, well behind Obezyana (8-5) at Haydock 1m hcap (4) gf in May.
Misphire 25-1 (8-11) Mid-division, one pace when hampered inside final furlong, 11th of 14, 16l behind Tajneed (9-0) at Ripon 6f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Handsome Falcon 7-1 (8-5) In touch, ridden over 2 out, headway and effort 1f out, stayed on well final furlong to lead near finish, won at Newcastle 7f hcap (4) gf in May beating Crocodile Bay (9-9) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Angaric (IRE) 11-2 (8-11) Close up on outside, driven and lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 20l behind Turn Me On (7-13) at Catterick 7f hcap (5) gf in May.
Musaalem (USA) 11-4 (9-4) Steadied start, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on, won at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May beating Violent Velocity (8-9) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Hartshead 9-2 (8-12) Held up, effort on inside when not much room and switched right over 1f out, kept on same pace no impression, 5th of 7, 5l behind Daaweitza (8-12) at Catterick 7f hcap (3) gf in May.
