slowly into stride, soon recovered to chase winner after 1f until 4f out, pushed along halfway, dropped to last 2f out, virtually pulled up over 1f out, tailed off
raced keenly, made all, clear when shaken up over 1f out, unchallenged
chased winner for 1f, went 2nd again 4f out, no chance with winner when hung left under pressure over 1f out
held up last, ridden and went modest 3rd 2f out, no impression
Grey Gazelle has gone the wrong way after a decent introductory effort at Newbury in April while San Gabriel has been well beaten either side of a third at Wolverhampton and both drop back down in distance today. Keene has shown little so far but Crave posted a better effort at Yarmouth last time. AL MANAAL won't need much improvement on October's narrow-margin defeat at Wolverhampton to open his account and he gets the vote given Saeed Bin Suroor's impressive strike rate at this track.
Keene 100-1 (9-2) Mid-division, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 14, 12l behind Stableford (9-2) at Yarmouth 1m mdn stks (5) gf in May.
Al Manaal 9-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken near finish, 3rd of 9, 3/4l behind Footstepsintherain (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo mdn auc stks (6) pol in Oct.
Crave 2-1fav (8-12) Disputed lead, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Rocksilla (8-12) at Yarmouth 6f mdn auc stks (6) gs in May.
Grey Gazelle 20-1 (8-9) Keen in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 11, 13l behind Integral (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 3yo fll stks (5) gd in May.
San Gabriel (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Close up, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 25l behind Rosie Rebel (8-9) at Chepstow 1m mdn auc stks (5) sft in May.
