tracked leaders, keen, headway on outer over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up, headway on outer over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong
held up, headway on inner over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
led, headed over 2f out, one pace
tracked leaders, lost place over 4f out, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, kept on well, driven out
close up, led briefly over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up, headway 7f out to chase leaders, weakened over 3f out
tracked leaders, chased winner over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
Nonrunner
Force Group is preferred to Effigy, Twilight Dawn and Pitbull in the finale. Mark Tompkins' runner races from the same mark as when beating Lucayan Dancer over course and distance last time and looks capable of following up in this contest. He didn't prove easy to train last year but did run well when he made it to the track and his latest performance suggests that he's ready to make up for lost time. Twilight Dawn has also had her problems but she made a winning start for new connections at the start of the month and should improve for this longer trip; however, the handicapper doesn't appear to have taken any chances. Effigy went close on his return to action and should go well again despite a small rise in the weights whilst Pitbull, successful over course and distance in October, can be expected to improve now that he's stepped up in trip and got a run under his belt. His inexperienced claimer has yet to ride a winner though and we think that he'll have to wait a little longer as Force Group appeals as the likelier winner.
Twilight Dawn 25-1 (9-10) Held up stand side, headway 2f out, ridden and stayed on well to lead over all, well inside final furlong, won at Newcastle 1m mdn fll (5) gs beating Midnight Mystique (8-9) by a nk, 13 ran.
Red Wine 5-1 (9-6) Towards rear, headway on outer over 2f out, led 2f out, headed when weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 7l behind Puy d'Arnac (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Kalasam 16-1 (8-12) Prominent, ridden along over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 15, 29l behind Pee Jay's Dream (8-7) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Lucayan Dancer 9-2 (9-2) Chased leaders, every chance inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Force Group (9-0) at Pontefract 1m 2f app hcp (5) gs.
Force Group (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, headway on inner well over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Pontefract 1m 2f app hcp (5) gs beating Lucayan Dancer (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Effigy 6-1 (8-12) Keen in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to challenge winner inside final furlong, held near finish, 2nd of 13, hd behind Penny Island (8-10) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) sft.
Old Romney 28-1 (10-2) Led, headed 4f out, soon weakened, tailed off 3f out, last of 14, well behind Blue Spinnaker (10-2) at Doncaster 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (5) gs.
Mandalay Prince 8-1 (8-10) Always behind, 9th of 13, 18l behind Ryan's Future (8-9) at Bath 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Moonwalking 22-1 (8-12) Prominent, ridden along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 15, 16l behind Pee Jay's Dream (8-7) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
King of The Moors (USA) 33-1 (8-8) Always rear division, 13th of 18, 24l behind Blue Spinnaker (9-6) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
Bright Sun (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Tracked leader, effort over 2f out, soon weakened, 13th of 17, 11l behind Hazelnut (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jul.
Pitbull 16-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride, some headway over 1f out, one pace, 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Don Pietro (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (5) pol.
