slowly into stride, held up towards rear, good headway near side over 1f out, not clearest of runs and squeezed through entering final furlong, strong run inside final furlong, finished well, almost snatched 3rd, not reach leaders
well off the pace towards rear, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
held up in mid-division, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
chased leaders, challenged going well 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, headed final 50 yards, lost 2nd close home
soon well off the pace towards rear and never a factor
chased leaders in centre, pushed along halfway, ridden well over 1f out, weakening when hampered over 1f out
smartly away, led on rail 1f, chased leaders, edged left off rail from 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
chased leaders, not clear run and switched left inside final furlong, strong run to take 2nd close home and pressed winner, just held
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, no extra inside final furlong
prominent, led after 1f, ridden and narrowly headed over 1f out, rallied gamely to lead again 50 yards out, just held on, all out
rearing in stalls, started slowly, in rear and no chance after
off the pace in mid-division, ridden and kept on same pace inside final furlong
raced alone in centre of course, well on terms, ridden over 1f out, no extra final 100 yards
off the pace in mid-division, headway in centre 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
mid-division on rail, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
prominent, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened quickly inside final furlong
mid-division in centre of course, headway halfway, soon chasing leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
raced awkwardly off the pace towards rear, never involved
Nonrunner
Steps beat Eton Rifles a neck at Haydock a week ago but both would prefer cut in the ground so connections will be hoping the forecast rain arrives. Monsieur Joe beat Elusivity at York last month and, along with Ballesteros, will also relish softer going. Swan Song could go well having won over track and trip in August and is preferred to Seeking Magic, who is best over 6f, while Caspian Prince is another course and distance winner with claims. Addictive Dream and Even Stevens are both all-weather speedsters with a shout but the vote goes to SMOOTHTALKINRASCAL. The latter had Tangerine Trees back in fourth when winning at Musselburgh on his comeback and has taken on classy opposition since - he was beaten only a neck in last year's renewal.
Steps (IRE) 6-1 (9-8) In touch in mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, ran on to lead close home, won at Haydock 5f Listed stks (1) gs in May beating Eton Rifles (9-8) by nk, 9 ran.
Smoothtalkinrascal (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Towards rear, outpaced over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, last of 9, 17l behind Hot Streak (8-10) at Haydock 5f Grp 2 (1) sft in May.
Monsieur Joe (IRE) 17-2 (9-10) Held up towards rear, headway when not clear run and switched left over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 7th of 18, 3l behind Top Boy (7-13) at York 5f hcp 105 (2) gs in May.
Addictive Dream (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Chased leaders in 4th on inside, ridden one pace and no impression inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Swan Song (8-13) at Chester 5f cond Stakes (3) gd in May.
Ballesteros 14-1 (9-4) Raced centre, chased leaders, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 19, 8l behind Monsieur Joe (9-6) at York 5f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in May.
Racy 14-1 (9-5) In touch near side, ridden and edged left over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 9th of 18, 5l behind Top Boy (7-13) at York 5f hcp 105 (2) gs in May.
Free Zone 40-1 (9-7) Soon outpaced and never on terms, last of 12, 27l behind Sir Maximilian (8-7) at Chester 5f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in May.
Swan Song 11-4fav (8-13) Blindfold off late and missed break, soon tracking leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 12l behind Steps (9-8) at Haydock 5f Listed stks (1) gs in May.
Seeking Magic 9-1 (9-0) Raced stand side, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 9th of 21, 4 1/2l behind Goldream (8-10) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gf in May.
Tangerine Trees 6-1 (9-2) Prominent, led after 1f, headed 2f out, led again inside final furlong, edged left, headed final 80 yards, one pace, 4th of 7, 1 3/4l behind Smoothtalkinrascal (9-7) at Musselburgh 5f cond Stakes (2) gf in Apr.
Caspian Prince (IRE) 4-1fav (9-2) Led at fast pace, ridden over 1f out, headed final 150 yards, kept on same pace and did well to hold on to 2nd, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Sir Maximilian (8-7) at Chester 5f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in May.
Hopes N Dreams (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, no impression, 5th of 11, 7l behind Noble Storm (9-3) at Thirsk 5f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in May.
New Fforest 16-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders centre, not clear run and switched right inside final 2f, soon ridden and one pace, no impression final furlong, 10th of 15, 6l behind Steps (8-12) at Ascot 5f Listed stks 3yo (1) sft in Oct.
Judge 'n Jury 8-1 (9-4) Led narrowly on stands side rail, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Asian Trader (8-5) at Nottingham 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gs.
Barnet Fair 5-1 (9-5) Taken to post early, held up, ridden 2f out, headway entering final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Normal Equilibrium (8-8) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in May.
Taajub (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Raced wide mid-division, effort entering final 2f, weakened and eased inside final furlong, 9th of 10, 7l behind Caspian Prince (9-4) at Epsom Downs 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Apr.
Even Stevens 25-1 (8-2) Led in centre of course, ridden clear over 1f out, headed and weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 18, 5l behind Top Boy (7-13) at York 5f hcp 105 (2) gs in May.
Lady Gibraltar 33-1 (8-9) Raced centre, chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 6th of 19, 2 3/4l behind Monsieur Joe (9-6) at York 5f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in May.
Elusivity (IRE) 14-1 (8-8) Raced centre, held up, headway to lead entering final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 19, 1l behind Monsieur Joe (9-6) at York 5f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in May.
Eton Rifles (IRE) 7-1 (9-8) Pressed leader, led over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind Steps (9-8) at Haydock 5f Listed stks (1) gs in May.
