led, driven and edged left 1f out, soon ridden, headed, no extra final 75 yards
held up, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to lead final 75 yards
mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden, hung left well over 1f out, one pace, no impression final furlong
stumbled start, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, hampered well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up, headway over 1f out, ridden, kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
slowly away, behind, ridden 2f out, never dangerous
tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, soon outpaced, weakened final furlong
mid-division, outpaced halfway, no impression when carried left well over 1f out
This appears to rest between last time winners Piano Player and Malech, with the Tim Easterby pair Methusaleh and Grandad Bill also worthy of consideration, and we take Piano Player to score. Eddie Ahern teams up with trainer Jamie Osborne here, after Steve Drowne was in the plate for successive Lingfield wins in March and April over seven furlongs and then a mile. This is his first start on turf but with polytrack form often translating to faster ground on grass then he should be suited. Malech was a comfortable scorer from Woolly Bully at Yarmouth on similarly fast ground last time out and has clearly improved at three. Jamie Spencer is in cracking form and again partners the Bahhare gelding, who won't be far away. Both Dream Rose and Ayam Jantan come from yards going well and can't be discounted, while Methusaleh looks the pick of the Easterby pairing on jockey bookings and should be cherry ripe after a couple of runs so far, although this ground may be a bit quick for him. An interesting handicap then and we take Piano Player to land it.
Il Castagno (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Chased leaders for 4f, last of 11, well behind Danetime Lord (8-6) at W'hampton 7f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Methusaleh (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Behind, headway over 2f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Top Shot (8-13) at Thirsk 1m 3yo hcp (5) gs in Apr.
Grandad Bill (IRE) 9-2 (8-7) Chased leaders, ridden and losing place when squeezed out over 1f out, 9th of 12, 8l behind Always Baileys (8-4) at Goodwood 7f 2yo hcp (3) gs in Jul.
Piano Player (IRE) Evensfav (9-4) Mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden, ran on to lead inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 3yo hcp (5) std in Apr beating Ellesappelle (9-1) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Dream Rose (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Raced far side, held up mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out, 14th of 19, 10l behind Illuminise (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 3yo mdn fll (5) gf in Apr.
Suits Me 25-1 (9-0) Always behind stands side group, 15th of 17, 19l behind Antica (9-7) at Ripon 6f 3yo hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Malech (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Raced centre, held up in rear, switched stand side halfway, headway over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, readily, won at Yarmouth 1m 3yo hcp (6) gf in Mar beating Woolly Bully (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Ayam Jantan 9-1 (9-0) With leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Frank Crow (9-0) at Ayr 7f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Sept.
Eliminator 50-1 (8-3) Behind, ridden 3f out, kept on 2f out never dangerous, 7th of 16, 11l behind European Dream (9-2) at Newcastle 1m 3yo hcp (5) gf.
