held up towards rear, pushed along and headway 4f out, driven 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up behind leaders, ridden along and headway inner over 1f out, led 1f out, kept on final furlong until headed post
mid-division, effort when outpaced over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
led, driven over 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, ridden along over 3f out, one paced until weakened inside final furlong
in touch, pushed along over 6f out, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
towards rear, headway over 2f out, driven and one paced final 2f
started slowly and was held up in rear, headway over 4f out, driven over 1f out, ran on final furlong to lead post
A tight stayers' handicap that looks likely to produce a close finish, with INCHPAST taken to complete a hat trick, and narrowly preferred to Markington and Nosferatu. Markington races off the same mark here as when taking a Doncaster apprentice handicap, and it would be no surprise to see him in the shake up. A winless run hitherto had seen him slide down the handicap, but he looked to have progressed during the winter, when he collected a couple of handicap hurdles. Nosferatu saddles top weight here, and comes here on the back of a fine York success, albeit in a claimer. That was his first outing on the Flat for 19 months, and although he has only picked up the odd hurdle victory in the meantime, first time blinkers evoked an improvement at York and they are applied again here. Inchpast is enjoying the fast ground just now, and after coming up against a thrown in Kayf Aramis at York, he has obliged at Goodwood and Ripon. The latter contest was weak, but he is game and his confidence will have been restored. Inchpast can do just that in the closing stages and take this stamina test.
Nosferatu (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Driven to chase clear leader, ridden 4f out, headway to lead 2f out, stayed on final furlong, won at York 1m 4f clm stks (4) gf in May beating Benedict Spirit (8-9) by 4l, 12 ran.
Mr Crystal (FR) 13-2 (9-5) In touch, chased winner 3f out, no impression, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Tyrrells Wood (9-7) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
My Immortal 13-2 (9-4) Led to halfway, ridden over 3f out, soon outpaced, last of 4, 17l behind Baizically (8-9) at Musselburgh 1m 6f app hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (4) gd.
Luna Landing 8-1 (8-13) Led to over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 6, 3l behind Dazzling Light (9-1) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
Inchpast 5-2fav (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Ripon 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gf beating Jackday (8-10) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Dream In Blue 10-11fav (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, stayed on to take 2nd well inside final furlong, not troubled winner, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Simonside (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (5) pol in Mar.
Miss Keck 5-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, headway on inside over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong, won at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-65 (6) gd beating Celtic Carisma (8-6) by 6l, 12 ran.
Markington 8-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, headway into mid-division over 7f out, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong to lead final 75 yards, won at Doncaster 1m 7f app hcp 0-70 (5) gd beating Isabelonabicycle (9-10) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
