pulled hard, tracked leaders on inner, not much room when unable to quicken from 2f out, edged right and stayed on final furlong
set steady pace 2f, stayed in touch, hard ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, weakened and eased when no chance final furlong
keen hold, prominent, went 2nd halfway, ridden to press leader 2f out, losing place when not much room inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, keeping on one pace when not much room inside final furlong
held up, some late moderate headway final furlong, never dangerous
took keen hold, prominent, lost place 6f out, headway on inner final 2f, stayed on same pace
behind, pushed along in rear and no impression 3f out, kept on final 2f, never nearer
in touch, led over 1f out, kept on gamely until not quicken and headed inside final furlong
steadied start and held up in rear off slow pace, rapid headway to lead after 2f, steadied halfway, pressed from over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
behind, ridden and no impression 3f out, kept on final furlong, not pace to reach leaders
held up, headway to track leaders from 7f out, hard ridden 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, behind, headway into mid-division 7f out, staying on under pressure when hung right and flashed tail approaching final furlong, stayed on
held up in rear, hard driven from over 3f out, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong
raced wide in mid-division, outpaced final 2f
held up in rear, well behind final 3f
The vote goes to The Persuader in a competitive finale in which Archduke Ferdinand, King Eider and Misternando rate the main dangers. Mark Johnston's colt progressed well in the spring when landing back-to-back handicap wins at Nottingham and York and was in need of the outing when beaten at odds-on on his return from a mid-season break at Leicester last month. However, the son of Sadler's Wells resumed winning ways when landing a competitive all-aged handicap at Haydock earlier this month and, with the step up in trip sure to suit, is taken to defy a further 5lb rise. Last year's Northumberland Plate hero Archduke Ferdinand has had more than his fair share of training problems since but has slipped to a most attractive mark and showed signs of returning to his best when runner-up at York last time. Paul Cole's charge has to be feared despite conceding weight all round while John Dunlop saddles King Eider who comes here fresher than most having been lightly campaigned this term and has serious claims on the pick of last year's form. Misternando has proved a thoroughly genuine performer and a real money spinner for connections having won eight times this year. However, he was beaten off a 3lb lower mark at Ayr last time and this looks tougher so he may have to settle for minor honours behind The Persuader on this occasion.
