raced alone in centre, prominent, led over 1f out, clear entering final furlong, soon eased, comfortable
always in rear
close up, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace
in touch, ridden halfway, weakened and eased over 1f out
close up, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish
towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden and no impression from over 1f out
towards rear, never near leaders
short of room start always in rear and soon pushed along
close up, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out
chased leader until halfway, soon ridden, weakened 2f out
It's difficult to know what to make of Great Fun, who made a successful debut when making all at Wetherby. This is much tougher and the runner-up was beaten at Beverley on Tuesday. Tarooq had been in top form on the all-weather before placed at Chepstow though that was over the minimum trip. The veteran Jonnie Skull came close to making it 22 career victories on his 173rd start at Lingfield and has won off higher marks than this. See The Storm is a fast-ground specialist over this trip so it was no surprise to see him run poorly on his reappearance on soft going at Chepstow. BIG STORM COMING ended the last campaign with a narrow defeat in a class 2 handicap at Ripon and with a recent run at Thirsk behind him Ruth Carr's charge can get back to winning ways. Firmdecisions ran better than his finishing position suggests at Ascot and enters the equation despite his big weight.
Firmdecisions (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Chased near side leaders, ridden to lead group over 1f out, stayed on into 4th and edged right inside final furlong, 4th of 21, 5l behind Childesplay (8-10) at Ascot 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Kakatosi 20-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, under pressure halfway, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 5th of 12, 10l behind Directorship (9-1) at Ascot 1m app hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (4) gf in Apr.
See The Storm 33-1 (9-2) Held up in mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 10, 30l behind Instant Attraction (9-0) at Chester 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft.
Big Storm Coming 8-1 (8-12) Dwelt, in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace and no impression, 7th of 8, 8l behind Birdman (9-7) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Until Midnight (IRE) 20-1 (8-4) Chased leader, took keen hold, ridden over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 11th of 15, 12l behind Wilde Inspiration (8-10) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Apr.
Tommy's Secret 7-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 1f out, ridden and every chance well inside final furlong, kept on, just held, 3rd of 8, hd behind Best Kept (9-1) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Apr.
Tarooq (USA) 15-8fav (9-5) Soon off the pace towards rear, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish, never going pace to reach leading duo, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Powerful Wind (9-5) at Chepstow 5f hcap (5) gd.
Ixelles Diamond (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) In rear, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 11, 14l behind Maggie Pink (8-13) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Nov.
Black Dave (IRE) 11-2 (9-4) In touch in 4th, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to lead close home, won at Kempton 7f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Apr beating Buckland Beau (9-5) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Celestial Knight 11-4fav (9-6) Held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 4l behind West Leake (8-10) at Kempton 1m hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Apr.
Berrahri (IRE) 9-1 (9-6) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on, 5th of 11, 5l behind We'll Shake Hands (9-5) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Apr.
Jonnie Skull (IRE) 6-1 (9-6) Led on rail, ridden and joined 2f out, narrowly headed over 1f olut, hampered and switched left inside final furlong, rallied, just failed, 2nd of 10, hd behind Freddy With A Y (10-8) at Lingfield 7f ladies hcap (5) gd.
Great Fun 16-1 (10-0) Made all, ridden over 1f out, kept on, held on well, won at Wetherby 7f mdn stks (5) gd in Apr beating Dark Red (9-1) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Trucanini 8-1 (9-7) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened, last of 10, 8l behind Compton (9-9) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
