towards rear, outpaced over 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go a never nearer 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden 3f out, every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong
mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace final 2f
dwelt in rear, never on terms
in touch, tracked leader 4f out, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, soon eased
in touch, headway 4f out, led 2f out, soon pressed, asserted inside final furlong
led, joined 8f out, headed over 5f out, weakened over 3f out, eased final 2f
close up, joined leader 8f out, led over 5f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
dwelt in rear, never on terms
ridden along early tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 1f out
Light The City won over 1m4f at Catterick last week and has a 6lb penalty to carry. However, he scored off the same mark over today's trip at Haydock last year and has to come into the reckoning. Denison Flyer came good at Redcar last month and should do better than his last visit here when well beaten over a mile, while the lightly-raced Host The Band is another to consider having finished runner-up over a shorter trip here on his penultimate start. RHYTON has been campaigned over hurdles since winning over 1m4f at Ponteract last summer. Donald McCain's charge has scope for improvement on only his third start on the Flat and gets the nod.
Rhyton (IRE) 6-4fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, effort to chase leader and hung left 1f out, stayed on under pressure to lead on line (no time taken), won at Pontefract 1m 4f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Jun '10 beating Sharakti (8-12) by ns, 7 ran.
Im Spartacus 9-2fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, headway over 4f out, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, one pace, 4th of 11, 14l behind Spiders Star (8-8) at Beverley 2m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun.
Dr Finley (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Kavaloti (9-7) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jun.
L'Homme de Nuit (GER) 40-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, keen and headway on wide outside over 5f out, ridden on outside and struggling 3f out, 8th of 13, 24l behind Money Money Money (9-9) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jun.
Exotic Dream (FR) 14-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, soon lost 2nd and no chance with leading duo, weakened to poor 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 13l behind Eagle Nebula (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 4f sell stks (6) pol in Jun.
Light The City (IRE) 8-1 (8-2) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, clear over 1f out, pushed out, readily, won at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Jun beating Eijaaz (8-13) by 4l, 11 ran.
Pobs Trophy 10-1 (8-2) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway on inside over 4f out to chase leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Dubara Reef (8-11) at Redcar 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Sep.
Merrion Tiger (IRE) 40-1 (8-10) In touch in mid-division, ridden 6f out, behind over 4f out, weakened 3f out, last of 10, 36l behind Ghufa (9-4) at Musselburgh 1m 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Jun.
Pyjoma 100-1 (9-8) Always in rear, 13th of 14, well behind High Jinx (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gs in Jun.
Denison Flyer 9-1 (8-5) Went left start, tracked leader, hard driven to challenge over 3f out, led over 2f out, strongly challenged over 1f out, kept on well, won at Redcar 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Jun beating Word Of Warning (8-10) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Host The Band 12-1 (9-6) Mid-division, effort on outside over 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, never on terms, 5th of 10, 9l behind Schism (8-12) at Chepstow 1m 4f 3yo fll stks (5) gf in Jun.
Whisky Galore 9-1 (9-10) Led and disputed, ridden and headed 4f out, soon weakened, last of 10, 43l behind Golden Nugget (9-5) at Sligo 1m 2f 3yo & 4yo mdn gf in Jun '10.
