slowly into stride, held up in rear, switched slightly right over 2f out, headway over 1f out, went 3rd close home, no impression on front pair
mid-division, ridden on outside over 3f out, well beaten final 2f
tracked leaders on inside, not clear run 3f out, hampered 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, no impression on front pair, lost 3rd close home
led early, tracked leader, every chance over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
prominent, every chance 3f out, one pace over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
soon led, headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out
dropped out start, held up in rear, headway over 3f out, switched right over 2f out, went 2nd and hanging left over 1f out, carried right when challenging towards finish, bumped close home, just held (placed 1st following inquiry)
mid-division, headway 4f out, led over 2f out, edged right well inside final furlong, bumped rival close home, held on (placed 2nd following inquiry)
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
QASSER scored at Wolverhampton last month but has won in soft ground before and was not beaten far off today's mark last time. Gran Maestro has been hurdling of late but scored on the Flat at Haydock last term and is partnered by Richard Hughes here while Dandy has scored twice over course and distance before but on faster going than this. Cotton Club remains 10lb higher than last year's win at Nottingham but Smoker went close off higher marks when trained in Ireland last term. The lightly-raced Abyaat posted a much better effort over timber last time and may figure if translating that form back to the level.
Arantes 8-1 (8-13) Headway to track leader after 2f, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 7, 10l behind Raise Your Gaze (9-4) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep.
Cotton Club (IRE) 7-1 (8-7) Led and clear with rival, reduced lead over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 5l behind Carthage (8-9) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Apr.
Qasser (IRE) 11-4fav (9-5) Tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon weakened, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Sequester (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) in Apr.
Golden Jubilee (USA) 8-1 (9-2) Led 3f, tracked leaders, 2nd over 3f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, no impression when lost 2 places inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 10l behind Collaboration (9-7) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr.
Smoker 14-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 8, 13l behind Air Squadron (9-0) at Chepstow 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Atlantic Affair (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 12l behind Polar Forest (9-2) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-80 (4) sft.
Oskar Denarius (IRE) 7-1 (8-0) Towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 11l behind Yul Finegold (9-1) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Apr.
Abyaat (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Tracked leader until 8f out, chased leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out, soon behind and eased, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Bold Runner (9-4) at Salisbury 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) sft in May '14.
Gran Maestro (USA) 9-4fav (9-2) Held up in mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Stockhill Diva (9-0) at Bath 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jun.
Dandy (GER) 11-4 (8-9) Led early, chased leader, pushed along over 3f out, lost 2nd 3f out, chased leading pair, no impression, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 5, 6l behind Zugzwang (9-7) at Bath 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) fm in Apr.
