in touch, ridden over 4f out, driven 2f out, not pace to challenge
in touch in rear, reaminders 8f out headway soon after to go close up, ridden 4f out, kept on, not pace to challenge
tracked leaders, switched right 2f out, headway to lead approaching 1f out, ridden clear
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
slowly away, soon driven along in rear, behind final 3f
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed and outpaced by winner
Crystal Gale has been placed in four of her seven starts but hasn't raced since failing to justify favouritism in a modest Beverley handicap in May. Handsome King's last two runs have suggested he's capable of winning at this level but two of Newmarket's most powerful yards are represented here and you'd expect both representatives to have a bit of scope. Henry Cecil's Beyond Rubies should have learned from her debut at Wolverhampton but we prefer Jeremy Noseda's newcomer CHEYNE WALK, who is a full sister to the very smart miler Equal Rights and has plenty of stamina on the dam's side of her pedigree.
Handsome King 5-2fav (9-3) Went left start, led, hung left over 2f out headed over 1f out, rallied inside final furlong, kept on well towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Jaldarshaan (8-12) at Kempton 7f mdn auc stks (5) pol.
New Den 18-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, hard driven and every chance 2f out, soon under pressure, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 13, 5l behind Lingfield Bound (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Suntrap 12-1 (9-6) Steadied towards rear, under pressure over 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 13, 6l behind Lingfield Bound (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Beyond Rubies 9-2 (8-12) Sprawled in gates, slowly into stride, always in rear, 10th of 12, 29l behind Plutocraft (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Oct.
Cheyne Walk (USA) Royal Academy filly out of Lady Liberty.
Crystal Gale (IRE) 2-1fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Saint Thomas (8-13) at Beverley 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf in May.