slowly into stride, soon prominent, led 10f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
prominent, led over 12f out until 10f out, tracked leader until over 4f out, soon ridden, weakened over 2f out, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd over 4f out until over 2f out, soon not much room, not able to quicken, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
held up in 5th, effort 3f out, soon ridden, never on terms with leaders, no impression 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, eased
led over 1f, tracked leaders, improved 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on well
slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden 4f out, stayed on from over 1f out to take 4th inside final furlong, never dangerous
steadied start, took keen hold in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no impression on winner
It is interesting that Graham Gibbons, who rode Hallstat last time now partners Motarid, but we will pass both of them over in favour of STRIKEMASTER. Brian Ellison's gelding is of interest now blinkered for the first-time, which is taken as positive. Stamina is not a problem, nor is this ground, while he can surely still do better from this mark of 65. We will take him to come good now returned to turf. Hallstat has a 3lb pull with Carlton Scroop for one-and-a-half lengths when the pair met at Doncaster over 1m 4f last month. However, John Mackie's four-year-old has stamina to prove over this far, while his reopposing rival looks better placed in that regard to confirm placings. Motarid represents a yard going quite well but is proving so very hard to win with. Six seconds from 11 starts shows that there is ability and he does stay well, so he should again be involved in the shake-up. Sworn Tigress also has stamina to fully prove but his shrewd trainer is unlikely to be running him if there were no hope on that front and he is respected. Strikemaster gets the vote in a tricky contest.
Sworn Tigress (GER) 5-2fav (9-2) Close up, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Kames Park (9-1) at Beverley 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Apr.
Motarid (USA) 11-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden along over 4f out, soon beaten, 19th of 20, 33l behind Wells Lyrical (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcap (4) gd in Oct '08.
Puy d'Arnac (FR) 7-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 14, 12l behind My Arch (8-13) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Apr.
Carlton Scroop (FR) 7-1 (8-7) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Apr beating Interdiamonds (8-13) by hd, 7 ran.
Hallstatt (IRE) 12-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 7, 1 1/4l behind Carlton Scroop (8-7) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Apr.
Strikemaster (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Always behind, 9th of 13, 27l behind Bold Adventure (9-8) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Apr.
Red Wine 5-1fav (8-10) Held up behind, headway on outside 3f out, driven and stayed on well inside final furlong to lead final 75 yards, won at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Apr beating Patavium (8-11) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.