in touch until lost place 7f out, headway on wide outside from 3f out, effort over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
dwelt, always struggling in rear
led, clear 4f out, hard ridden 2f out, headed final 100 yards, no extra towards finish
stumbled leaving stalls, took keen hold and held up in rear, no real headway
in rear, driven along halfway, behind when hampered on rail over 3f out, no real impression
dwelt, soon recovered into mid-division, hung right under pressure from 2f out, soon weakened
behind, headway when not clear when on rail 3f out, effort 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, steady headway from 5f out, stayed on from over 1f out, led final 50 yards
close up until lost place over 4f out, stayed on again final furlong
in mid-division, hard ridden and one pace final 2f
held up in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on and every chance inside final furlong, just held
tracked leaders until weakened quickly under pressure over 1f out
behind, rapid headway on outside to track leader 9f out, ridden 5f out, weakened well over 1f out
took keen hold, close up, ridden to chase leader well over 1f out, led final 100 yards, soon headed and lost 2nd near finish
raced keenly, tracked leaders, chased leader 3f out to well over 1f out, soon weakened
Pagan Dance ran with credit in the Northumberland Plate two weeks ago, and has to be respected with Amanda Perrett's stable in good form, but Mark Johnston holds a strong hand here and Mana d'Argent is taken to get the better of stablemate Double Obsession. The last mentioned showed improved form for being stepped up in trip when running out the convincing winner of the Ascot Stakes last month. However, the handicapper has hit the son of Sadler's Wells with a 9lb rise for his five-length defeat of Promoter and that leaves him with more to do. The runner-up there did not do a great deal to advertise the form when only ninth in the Northumberland Plate, a race in which Kristensen (fifth), Self Defense (eighth), Escayola (11th) and Distant Prospect (12th) all ran in. Pagan Dance, who finished sixth at Newcastle may do best of the runners there as he was having his first start of the season that day and the stable's horses are in good form at present. Newmarket winner Dorothy's Friend missed a possible engagement at Gosforth Park and as an unexposed stayer is interesting. Towards the bottom end of the handicap, last time out winners Dr Sharp and Thewhirlingdervish both warrant a mention but the vote goes to Mana d'Argent. Mark Johnston's seven-year-old has not been in the best of form of late but reserves his best form for this track and has won this twice before, having run below expectations at the royal meeting. Only 2lbs higher than when winning this 12 months ago, Mana d'Argent is taken to bounce back to form and record his sixth course success.
