held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
in touch and keen, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along and outpaced 3f out, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
traked leader, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
Last time out winners Clipperdown and Go Tech both have to be respected but are likely to find this tougher than the respective races that they won recently and preference is for Pearl King, with Pagan Sky rated the best of the remainder. The selection has shown progressive form of late and was unfortunate to come up against the similarly progressive Red Racketeer at Ripon under similar conditions last time. Admittedly the Michael Jarvis-trained colt has gone up 3lbs since then but this looks to be no tougher and he is taken to go one better today. Isidore Bonheur was a narrow winner at Ayr last time and has not been harshly treated with just a 2lb rise for that so has to be considered along with Richard Fahey's Realism, although he was well beaten off this mark in the Cambridgeshire last week and may now be in the grip of the handicapper. The consistent Pagan Sky is again entitled to be thereabouts and warrants respect but Pearl King looks to be going the right way and is taken to gain a deserved success in this grade.
Realism (FR) 20-1 (8-13) Led stands' side group and overall leader, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 25th of 30, 23l behind Blue Monday (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) sft.
Go Tech 3-1jt-fav (8-10) In touch, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, eased close home, won at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Sept beating Little Good Bay (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Thyolo (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) In touch, ridden 2f out, not clear run just over 1f out, no impression after, 14th of 19, 7l behind Star of Light (8-13) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Sept.
Pagan Sky (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (8-8) Started slowly, ridden over 2f out, headway and hung left from over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Go Tech (8-10) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Clipperdown (IRE) 11-2 (8-4) Tracked leader, led 2f out, edged right over 1f out, ran on strongly, driven out, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Sept beating Ofaraby (9-4) by 1l, 13 ran.
Isidore Bonheur (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, hard ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led post, won at Ayr 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sept beating Climate Change (8-10) by a shd, 7 ran.
Pearl King (IRE) 9-2 (8-7) Jumped left at start, held up behind leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, edged left and one pace final furlong, 2nd of 10, nk behind Red Racketeer (8-12) at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Dancer's Serenade (IRE) 11-1 (8-11) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, edged right and one pace final furlong, 6th of 10, 9l behind Red Racketeer (8-12) at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Instructor 16-1 (8-4) Held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 10l behind Go Tech (8-10) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Sept.