reared at start, slowly into stride, soon pushed along, some late headway, never reached challenging position
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
made all, driven 2f out, ridden approaching final furlong, edged left and ran on final fulong
towards rear, never a factor
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
prominent, driven over 2f out, soon beaten
chased leaders to halfway
towards rear, never dangerous
in touch, pushed along halfway, ridden when weakening final furlong
dwelt and was soon mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, ran on final furlong
in touch, ridden over 1f out and stayed on final furlong
always in rear division
prominent, driven over 2f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
After some small fields this is more the type of handicap contest we associate with the Knavesmire and our short list comprises Beaver Patrol, Ice Planet, Borderlescott, Intrepid Jack and Pieter Brueghel, and we will side with Borderlescott. Local trainer Robin Bastiman is very sweet on his four-year-old, describing him as the best he's ever had, and he will have to be somewhere near his peak to land this. He does have plenty in his favour though. Trip and ground suit, he has a favourable drawn down the middle, and his recent form is as good as anything here when taken in context. Bastiman would love to land a race like this and you can be sure he will have him as straight as he can for his reappearance, so we will side with him. Ice Planet is an obvious alternative and should handle trip and ground, but he has a lot to find with Pieter Brueghel on their running at Ripon over the trip last year and is opposed. The latter has a clear chance on that evidence alone, and his latest start on much faster ground offered some hope to supporters. He would ideally prefer to hear the hooves rattle though and is not a betting proposition with underfoot conditions against him. Of more interest is Beaver Patrol, who has handled cut and was unlucky at Kempton last time when baulked two furlongs out. If handling genuine testing ground then we can see him being bang there for Frankie Dettori. Muttawaffer looks handicapped up to the hilt at the moment, and Intrepid Jack looks a more likely proposition if he enjoys getting his toe in, but we prefer Borderlescott to prevail.
Coeur Courageux (FR) 40-1 (9-5) Reared in stalls and unseated rider in race won by Mutamared (8-11) at Newmarket 6f hcap (2) gf, 26 ran.
Intrepid Jack 15-8fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, no progress and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 8l behind Gimasha (8-7) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Borderlescott 20-1 (8-9) In touch stand side, led halfway, ridden over 1f out, kept on gamely final furlong, won at York 6f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct beating Machinist (8-6) by 3/4l, 18 ran.
Jonny Ebeneezer 14-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, not pace of front pair, 3rd of 6, 6l behind One Putra (9-0) at Haydock 6f stk (3) gf.
Continent 50-1 (8-11) Raced centre, tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 26, 1l behind Mutamared (8-11) at Newmarket 6f hcap (2) gf.
Ice Planet 10-1 (8-8) Raced centre, behind, headway over 2f out, ran on well inside final furlong, 2nd of 26, 1/2l behind Mutamared (8-11) at Newmarket 6f hcap (2) gf.
Pieter Brueghel (USA) 25-1 (8-10) Led centre group and overall leader, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 26, 3/4l behind Mutamared (8-11) at Newmarket 6f hcap (2) gf.
Beaver Patrol (IRE) 4-1fav (8-13) Prominent, slightly outpaced and checked over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Fantaisiste (8-6) at Kempton 6f hcap (3) pol in Apr.
Josh 20-1 (8-10) Raced far side, chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, kept on same pace, 8th of 14, 2 1/2l behind King's Caprice (8-5) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf in Apr.
Funfair Wane 33-1 (9-1) Chased leader, led 2f out, hard ridden and headed 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Fantaisiste (8-5) at Kempton 6f hcap (3) pol in Apr.
Rising Shadow (IRE) 25-1 (8-9) Raced centre, always behind, 15th of 26, 4l behind Mutamared (8-11) at Newmarket 6f hcap (2) gf.
Gifted Gamble 14-1 (9-3) Led stand's side group, headed over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 14, 11l behind Dazzling Bay (9-1) at Ripon 6f hcap (3) gd.
Fantasy Believer 40-1 (8-9) Raced centre, prominent over 4f, 25th of 26, 16l behind Mutamared (8-11) at Newmarket 6f hcap (2) gf.
Mutawaffer 25-1 (8-12) In touch until weakened 2f out, 10th of 15, 6l behind Hartshead (8-8) at York 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Oct.
Doric (USA) 16-1 (9-4) Always behind, last of 14, well behind Commando Scott (8-10) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Fullandby (IRE) 3-1fav (9-12) Slowly into stride, alawys in rear, 9th of 11, 7l behind Highland Warrior (9-3) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Commando Scott (IRE) 11-2 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, led entering final furlonh, kept on, won at Ayr 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gd beating Breaking Shadow (8-9) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
