close up, effort 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out
in touch, pushed along 3f out, ridden and one pace final 2f
in touch, pushed along 2f out, ridden to chase winner entering final furlong, kept on towards finish
towards rear, pushed along halfway, headway under pressure 2f out, no further progress
towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, no impression
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent until weakened approaching final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
always behind
made all, clear over 1f out, kept on
towards rear, never dangerous
Another head scratcher here for punters with many in with chances on their best form but the principals look to be Grey Boy, Ask The Clerk and Guildenstern and the tentative vote is given to Grey Boy. The selection was a fair second behind Aperitif last time out, he runs off the same mark here and from a good draw he looks the one to be on. Ask The Clerk rates the main danger on his latest third behind Major Magpie but he was doing all his best work at the finish on that occasion so the drop in distance has to be of concern. Guildenstern was a never nearer fifth behind Judd Street last time and is another with place claims with this longer trip sure to be in his favour. Dig Deep looks to be on a fair mark on his best form of last season but he may just need the run after a 200 day absence. Of the remainder Seneschal, won well last time when beating Circuit Dancer but he will find this tougher under his penalty and with this in mind for the winner we return to Grey Boy.
Guildenstern (IRE) 7-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, outpaced 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 14, 6l behind Judd Street (9-2) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Dig Deep (IRE) 4-1fav (8-13) Raced centre, towards rear, ridden over 3f out, kept on but never dangerous, 7th of 17, 11l behind Davenport (8-13) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.
Lincolneurocruiser 25-1 (9-11) Chased leaders stands side, ridden over 1f out, soon no impression, 7th of 20, 8l behind Zidane (10-0) at Thirsk 6f hcap (5) gd.
Grey Boy (GER) 13-2 (8-9) Prominent, ridden to lead entering final furlong, headed final 50 yards, no extra close home, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Aperitif (8-5) at Catterick 7f hcap (4) gf.
Ask The Clerk (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, every chance entering final furlong, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Major Magpie (8-7) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr.
Sovereignty (JPN) 16-1 (8-5) In touch, ridden 3f out and soon weakened, 11th of 14, 23l behind Vicious Warrior (9-4) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Cd Flyer (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders far side, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 16, 14l behind George The Best (9-0) at Hamilton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Seneschal 4-1jt-fav (9-1) In touch, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, hung right final furlong, driven out, won at Kempton 6f hcap (6) pol beating Circuit Dancer (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Elkhorn 33-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 7th of 14, 3l behind Quantum Leap (8-13) at Kempton 7f hcap (5) std.
Out of India 16-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, headway on outside over 4f out, ridden, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 10l behind Arnie de Burgh (9-1) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Feb.
Young Mr Grace (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) In touch, driven over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 18, 27l behind Commitment Lecture (9-11) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Apr.
Sake (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, 9th of 12, 13l behind Takes Tutu (11-2) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Insubordinate 7-2 (8-10) Held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, just failed, 3rd of 6, nk behind Attacca (8-7) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
Sparkwell 9-2fav (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong, 8th of 20, 8l behind Dig Deep (8-8) at Newbury 7f 3yo hcp (4) gf in Sept.
Neon Blue 14-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, always behind, 9th of 11, 11l behind Perfect Story (8-8) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
