steadied start, held up last, outpaced halfway, headway out wide over 1f out, went never nearer 3rd towards finish
led over 1f, tracked leader, led again inside final 2f, narrowly headed when badly hampered entering final furlong, no chance after, weakened into 4th towards finish
pulled hard, led over 5f out, headed inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, challenged over 1f out, carried right inside final furlong, led final 150 yards, stayed on well
held up in 5th on inside, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, held up off the pace in last pair, pushed along on inside over 2f out, ridden and weakened inside final 2f
tracked leaders, headway out wide chasing leaders over 2f out, led and hung right entering final furlong, headed and no extra final 150 yards
King Of Tonga is on a long losing run but is well drawn for a front-runner and he can’t get much lower in the weights. A drop back to 7f might aid his cause while Distinction has only gone up a pound after getting off the mark on soft going at Ayr. HAJJAM and Oso Rapido filled the places behind Tamaska at Doncaster 11 days ago. Both were closing at the finish and Liam Bailey’s top weight can confirm that form on the same terms and go one better here. The Weed Machine is a maiden reappearing after a 600-day break while Parys Mountain appears to have lost his way.
Hajjam 14-1 (9-10) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and pressed leader over 1f out, kept on well, 2nd of 12, nk behind Tamaska (8-11) at Doncaster 7f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Parys Mountain (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway out wide over 3f out, chasing leaders and hung left 2f out, weakening when slightly hampered soon after, 8th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Glengarry (9-0) at Thirsk 1m hcp (4) gd in Aug.
The Weed Machine (IRE) 11-8fav (8-12) Slow into stride, outpaced after 2f, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 4 1/4l behind National Anthem (10-0) at Southwell 6f stks (5) pol in Jan.
Oso Rapido (IRE) 28-1 (9-7) Raced towards rear nearside, ridden and good headway well over 2f out, hung left from over 1f out, stayed on well, 3rd of 12, 1/2l behind Tamaska (8-11) at Doncaster 7f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
King Of Tonga (IRE) 10-1 (9-13) Midfield, pushed along 2f out, headway to lead 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Empirestateofmind (9-1) at Musselburgh 1m hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Billian (IRE) 28-1 (9-2) Midfield, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, last of 10, 16 3/4l behind Northern Express (9-6) at York 7f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Distinction (IRE) 18-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, strong run out wide inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at Ayr 7f hcp (6) sft in Aug beating Asmund (9-12) by nk, 12 ran.
