keen in mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, never able to challenge
chased leaders, lost place over 3f out, soon beaten
always behind
tracked leaders, pulled hard, led after 6f, 5 lengths clear over 4f out, headed over 1f out, faded
always prominent, hard driven to challenge well over 1f out, kept on same pace
in touch, lost place over 2f out
led 6f, remained prominent, outpaced over 3f out, soon behind, rallying when hung badly left approaching final furlong, never a threat
slowly into stride, behind, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, never able to challenge
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, never nearer
mid-division, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear inside final furlong, eased closing stages
Beaten at Newcastle last time, CRAY has yet to win on the all-weather but beat Becky The Thatcher seven lengths with Galileo's Spear further behind when scoring over track and trip on his penultimate start. James Bethell’s charge gets another chance back at this venue and is preferred to Angel Gabrial. The latter is partnered by an apprentice today after going close over 2m at York though Rubenesque was only a neck behind in third. Pepper Street and So Near So Farhh won lower grade contests over 1m6f on their respective latest start with the former making more appeal attempting 2m for the first time.
Angel Gabrial (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Close up, ridden and headway to chase leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 13, shd behind Le Maitre Chat (10-0) at York 2m hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Cousin Khee 66-1 (8-12) Led until over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 7th of 8, 13 1/2l behind Gavlar (9-6) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Aug.
Becky The Thatcher 11-8fav (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, chased winner over 2f out, never able to challenge, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Cray (9-8) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Galileo's Spear (FR) 12-1 (9-5) Held up in rear, headway on outside from 2f out, kept on, never on terms, 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Fitzwilly (9-4) at Kempton 2m hcp (5) pol in Sep.
Rubenesque (IRE) 9-2jfav (8-13) Close up, headway to lead approaching 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 13, nk behind Le Maitre Chat (10-0) at York 2m hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Airmax (GER) 3-1 (9-5) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on well, never able to challenge, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Twister (9-2) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) pol in Sep.
Forbidding (USA) 5-1 (8-11) Led early, prominent, ridden over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, 7th of 10, 6 1/4l behind Fitzwilly (9-4) at Kempton 2m hcp (5) pol in Sep.
St Andrews (IRE) 10-1 (10-2) Towards rear, behind and struggling 5f out, good headway on inside 2f out, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong, never nearer, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Question Of Faith (11-4) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Pepper Street (IRE) 9-4fav (9-3) Keen in last pair, ridden on outside and plenty to do 2f out, strong run inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at Ffos Las 1m 6f hcp (6) gs in Aug beating Royal Flag (10-0) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
So Near So Farhh 2-1fav (8-3) Behind, headway over 3 out, soon chasing leaders, hung left over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Carlisle 1m 6f hcp (6) hvy in Sep beating Auxiliary (10-0) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Cray (IRE) 5-2 (9-12) Led after 2f, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, weakened well inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 4 1/4l behind Sugarloaf Mountain (9-9) at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) pol in Sep.
