tracked leader, headway to challenge over 2f out, led inside final 2f, ridden and pressed inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish
led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final 2f, rallied inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
held up 4th and last, pushed along 4f out, effort to chase leading pair 3f out, ridden inside final 2f, kept on same pace, no impression final furlong
tracked leading pair, lost place 3f out, ridden and no chance final 2f
This looks a straightforward opportunity for DIGGERATT. He ran out the winner of a similar contest over 1m3f here last month, comes out best at the weights under today's race conditions and the drop back in distance will not inconvenience him. Lakeman could give him the most to think about having won at Ayr on his latest start but Starry Mount was well beaten here last time and Briary Mac has little to recommend her.
Diggeratt (USA) 3-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3f out, ridden, edged left and led over 1f out, driven and stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Southwell 1m 3f clm stks (6) fbs in Nov beating Lucky Punt (9-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Lakeman (IRE) 7-2 (9-9) Tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon clear, kept on well, driven out, won at Ayr 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) hvy in Oct beating Mississippian (8-12) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Starry Mount 2-1fav (9-0) Led until over 3f out, hard ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 5th of 7, 12l behind William Morgan (9-0) at Southwell 1m sell stks (6) fbs.
Briary Mac 25-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 30l behind Tariq Too (9-0) at Redcar 7f mdn stks (5) gd in Sep.