in touch, pushed along over 4f out, hung right 3f out, soon weakened and eased
towards rear, pushed along 3f out, soon beaten
well in rear and soon niggled along, steady headway on outside inside final 3f, hung right entering final 2f, stayed on to 3rd soon after, continued to edge right and one pace final furlong
in touch, effort on inside when bumped entering final 2f, stayed on same pace after
held up towards rear, hampered 3f out,headway over 1f out, plugged on same pace inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway on outside from 3f out, chased leader over 2f out, ridden and stayed on to lead final half furlong
in touch, pushed along over 3f out, weakened approaching 2f out
held up towards rear, effort on inside when pushed right entering final 2f, stayed on same pace after
chased leader, pushed along 5f out, lost 2nd 3f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leading pair, pushed along 5f out, weakening when hung right entering final 2f
led at strong pace, kept on well from 2f out, driven over 1f out, headed and no extra final half furlong
Chock A Block was contesting Listed class for much of last season and this represents a slight drop in grade though he's up against progressive rivals including Beachfire, who won four times early last summer and has returned in very good form. He makes his first start over this trip here and looks certain to be suited but another lightly-raced and improving type, HARLESTONE TIMES, may have his measure. John Dunlop's charge won over 1m2f on soft ground here in September and followed up over today's trip on fast going at Brighton. He reappeared with an excellent run in the Great Metropolitan at Epsom when demoted from second after hanging in the closing stages but he's not the first to have done that and compensation awaits.
Chock A Block (IRE) 4-1 (8-13) Held up in 3rd, ridden over 3f out, outpaced over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Nideeb (8-9) at Kempton 1m 2f stks (3yo+) (3) pol in Nov.
Icon Dream (IRE) 25-1 (8-9) Dwelt, held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 7th of 17, 5l behind Overturn (8-13) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (4yo+) (2) gf.
Beachfire 15-8fav (9-7) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway on outer to be in touch 6f out, pushed along 4f out, ridden to press winner entering final furlong, no impression near finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Jutland (9-1) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Halicarnassus (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, driven to challenge over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 7, 12l behind Indian Days (9-3) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Cumulus Nimbus 28-1 (9-9) Dwelt raced center, held up, never near leaders, 8th of 19, 11l behind Green Destiny (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gf in Apr.
Harlestone Times (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, edging left and not much room towards outside from over 2f out, headway 2f out, stayed on to 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner (finished 2nd, disqualified and placed 3rd), in a race won by Sunny Game (8-9) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Classic Vintage (USA) 25-1 (8-9) Mid-division, outpaced 3f out, headway under pressure 2f out, chased leaders 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 22, 3 1/2l behind Times Up (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Greylami (IRE) 50-1 (9-1) Raced center, in rear, never a factor, 14th of 19, 16l behind Green Destiny (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gf in Apr.
Mister Angry (IRE) 33-1 (9-6) Took keen hold early, chased leading pair, pushed along over 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, 9th of 12, 9l behind Rock A Doodle Doo (9-3) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Kid Charlemagne (IRE) 10-1 (9-13) Dwelt, in touch in chasing group, switched to chase center pair 5f out, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 8, 32l behind Maxim Gorky (8-3) at Newmarket 1m 7f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Aug.
Nave (USA) 20-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, kept on, one pace, 5th of 13, 5l behind Yorgunnabelucky (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
