towards rear, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
made all, clear over 1f out, stayed on well
towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on and no extra towards finish
prominent, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, soon eased
chased leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway 2f out, kept on towards finish
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
ROYAL CONNOISSEUR finished ahead of previous winner Vallarta when runner-up at Ripon last time and may be good enough. He is preferred to Manatee Bay, who is closely matched with Rodrigo De Torres on latest running at Thirsk. Hopes N Dreams and Viva Verglas could return to form at any time having slipped down the weights but Kenny The Captain carries a penalty for his recent win at Newcastle. Classy Anne was below par on her reappearance but was beaten only a neck by Baron Run over track and trip in September.
Azrur (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, not much room over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 12th of 14, 10l behind In Focus (9-1) at Wetherby 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Apr.
Classy Anne 8-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 12, 8l behind Distant Past (8-11) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Apr.
Baron Run 14-1 (8-12) Raced centre tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 14l behind Duelling Dragon (8-11) at Leicester 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Apr.
Hopes N Dreams (IRE) 17-2 (8-9) Led, ridden 2f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra towards finish, 5th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Ridge Ranger (8-9) at Wetherby 5f fls hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Apr.
Viva Verglas (IRE) 4-1fav (9-2) Chased leaders, not much room inside final furlong, one pace, 8th of 12, 4l behind Distant Past (8-11) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Apr.
Royal Connoisseur (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Intisaab (8-13) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Apr.
Kenny The Captain (IRE) 20-1 (8-10) Led, ridden and pressed over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, led again final 75 yards, driven out, won at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Apr beating Kommander Kirkup (9-4) by 1l, 10 ran.
Ambitious Icarus 16-1 (9-6) Very slowly away, in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on well to take 3rd place towards finish, 3rd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Signore Piccolo (9-4) at Ripon 5f app hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Apr.
Fleurtille 9-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 11, 8l behind Ridge Ranger (8-9) at Wetherby 5f fls hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Apr.
Pennine Warrior 8-1 (8-7) Raced wide, close up until ridden 4f out, soon lost place, 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Guishan (8-8) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-90 (3) fbs in Dec.
Chiswick Bey (IRE) 8-1fav (9-0) Mid-division, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, 7th of 19, 4 1/2l behind Skinny Love (9-3) at Redcar 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Apr.
Norville (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along in 3rd approaching straight, no extra 1f out, 8th of 18, 15l behind Princess Aloof (10-0) at Leopardstown 1m hcp 47-75 sft in Apr.
Lothair (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 19, 9l behind Skinny Love (9-3) at Redcar 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Apr.
Vallarta (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Intisaab (8-13) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Apr.
Manatee Bay 5-1 (9-1) Fly leapt start and went sharply left, in rear, headway and not much room over 1f out, ridden and stayed on towards finish, 4th of 9, 1 3/4l behind Meshardal (9-6) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr.
Rodrigo De Torres 6-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden 2f out, effort entering final furlong, no impression towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Meshardal (9-6) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr.
