took keen hold, tracked leader until halfway, chased leaders, led briefly 4f out, chased winner until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
steadied start, took keen hold, held up in touch, headway over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden and no impression on winner over 1f out
raced keenly, led until headed under pressure 4f out, weakened over 3f out
tracked leading duo, went 2nd halfway, challenged 4f out, led over 3f out, driven clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly
tracked leaders until outpaced over 3f out, rallied on outside under pressure over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
pushed along briefly after start, in touch, pushed along 5f out, outpaced and lost place soon after, tailed off
held up last, headway to modest 5th approaching final 2f, no impression
held up in last pair, headway over 3f out, went 4th over 2f out, stayed on to 3rd over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no chance with winner
Nonrunner
MY ARCH hasn't been in the best of form of late but it was the same before he won last year's renewal. He can race off a 13lb lower mark this time around with an apprentice's claim taken into account and may just bounce back to form. He'll have to reverse recent running with last year's fourth Blackstone Vegas, however, as the latter scored over 2m1f here last time when also beating the re-opposing Mojolika, Descaro and Wells Lyrical. The latter finished third in this last season but both L Frank Baum and Orsippus make more appeal on the back of their recent placed efforts in slow ground while Veloce tries a longer trip again having scored three times over 1m6f this year.
Veloce (IRE) 6-5fav (9-6) Tracked leader, driven to challenge over 3f out, soon every chance, led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gs beating Kingaroo (8-2) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
French Hollow 8-1 (9-10) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway over 5f out, chased leaders over 4f out, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Orsippus (8-10) at York 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Wells Lyrical (IRE) 9-2fav (9-7) Led, ridden and headed 4f out, weakened 2f out, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Blackstone Vegas (8-5) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Orsippus (USA) 3-1fav (9-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, not clear run and switched left over 1f out, chased winner entering final furlong, ran on, just failed, 2nd of 9, ns behind Rosairlie (8-12) at Ripon 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
My Arch 10-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden 6f out, lost place over 4f out, 8th of 13, 22l behind Blackstone Vegas (8-5) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Mr Crystal (FR) 20-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride and ridden along early in rear, driven over 3f out, some headway over 1f out, no chance, 9th of 17, 24l behind Cloudy Spirit (9-4) at York 2m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in May.
Descaro (USA) 14-1 (8-12) Held up in mid-division, effort over 2f out, never nearer, 6th of 13, 11l behind Blackstone Vegas (8-5) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Blackstone Vegas 14-1 (8-5) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gd beating Mojolika (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
L Frank Baum (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, ridden when every chance over 1f out, kept on well closing stages, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Salontyre (8-6) at Bath 2m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in May.
Mojolika 14-1 (9-0) Switched left soon after start, held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Blackstone Vegas (8-5) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Carnac (IRE) 25-1 (8-8) Held up in touch, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 11, 9l behind Handles For Forks (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 7f app hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
