slowly away, in rear, pushed along over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, never dangerous
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
towards rear, pushed along 3f out, no impression
led, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, weakened towards finish
with leader, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
dwelt, towards rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor
held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd place close home, always held by winner
held up in mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on and lost 2nd place close home
towards rear, headway over 2f out, led entering final furlong, so ridden, held on well
Able Jack arrives in good form having won two of his last three outings but steps up in class off a higher mark today and QAFFAAL is preferred. The latter is now back on the same mark as when winning last year’s renewal and Mick Easterby’s charge has a fitness edge over last year’s runner-up Take The Helm. The latter has been off the track for nearly a year now but is certainly good enough if at his best while Poet's Society was narrowly beaten off today’s mark at Wolverhampton back in January and is not out of this either. London still looks high enough in the weights while First Selection hasn’t won since 2015 now and was gelded at the end of last season.
First Selection (SPA) 28-1 (9-2) Raced wide, soon tracking leaders, pushed along over 2f out, weakened 2f out, 16th of 17, 19 1/4l behind Master The World (9-7) at Goodwood 1m hcp (2) sft in Aug.
Take The Helm 11-2 (9-5) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Takatul (8-13) at Lingfield 1m hcp (3) pol in Apr.
Apex King (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Raced centre, tracked leader, under pressure over 3f out, gradually weakened, 5th of 8, 8 3/4l behind The Statesman (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
London (FR) 12-1 (8-12) Soon tracking leader, led 6f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 4 3/4l behind Goring (9-5) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Feb.
Sands Chorus 40-1 (9-7) Dwelt headway to lead after 2f, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 13, 6 3/4l behind Pactolus (9-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Towerlands Park (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Steadied start in rear, pushed along over 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 8, 9l behind Constantino (9-6) at Lingfield 1m hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Qaffaal (USA) 12-1 (8-13) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on, not reach leaders, 4th of 14, 2 3/4l behind Straight Right (9-10) at Newcastle 7f hcp (2) pol in Feb.
Believe It (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Led, pushed along 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 10l behind Goring (8-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Poet's Society 16-1 (9-3) Disputed lead, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Constantino (9-6) at Lingfield 1m hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Able Jack 7-1 (9-2) Held up in touch, chased leaders 3f out, effort on outside under pressure over 1f out, ran on to lead final 100 yards, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Feb beating Kreb's Cycle (9-1) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
