chased leaders, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on towards finish
in rear, soon outpaced, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway over 2f out, every chance 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden over 1f out, kept on and headed towards finish
mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, kept on and held towards finish
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
towards rear, switched left 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong
close up, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway approaching final furlong, kept on to lead towards finish
towards rear, ridden 1f out, headway inside final furlong, kept on and no extra towards finish
Nonrunner
Pearl Blue was racing from 10lb higher at this stage a year ago and looked on the way back to form at Ascot last time. Mukaynis is 11lb higher than his last victory but very nearly landed a better class handicap than this at Pontefract last time. Best Trip has been running well at this sort of level and will enjoy the conditions but this hasn't been a good race for three-year-olds in the past and Dragon King may not have the experience. Ace Master has won on all kinds of ground and enters the equation after his victory here in June while Luca Cumani reaches for the blinkers for Grand Spirit, who drops down to this trip for the first time. CRUISE TOTHELIMIT won a handicap over the track and trip on soft ground last September from 6lb higher and is taken to return to winning ways in a tough race to fathom.
Pearl Blue (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Rural Celebration (9-11) at Ayr 5f hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Mukaynis (IRE) 11-8fav (8-13) Led until approaching halfway, chased winner, ridden over 1f out, kept on in closing stages, always held, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Silvanus (9-8) at Pontefract 5f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Kommander Kirkup 7-1 (10-0) Steadied start, in rear, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 8, 22 3/4l behind Personal Touch (9-8) at Ayr 7f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Colonel Mak 25-1 (9-6) Mid-division on outside, lost place over 2f out, soon behind, 10th of 12, 17 1/4l behind Right Touch (9-7) at Pontefract 6f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Best Trip (IRE) 13-8fav (9-10) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Signore Piccolo (9-12) at Catterick 6f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Native Falls (IRE) 11-2fav (9-6) Prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Eastern Racer (9-1) at Redcar 6f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Ballesteros 12-1 (8-13) Led, headed over 4f out, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 14th of 16, 12 1/2l behind Kimberella (9-8) at York 5f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Grissom (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Towards rear, driven and headway over 1f out, ridden 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Right Touch (9-7) at Pontefract 6f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Ambitious Icarus 12-1 (9-7) Raced centre tracked leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 5 1/4l behind Rural Celebration (9-11) at Ayr 5f hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Ancient Cross 9-1 (9-7) Bumped start, held up, headway over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 11th of 14, 6 3/4l behind Mon Brav (9-2) at York 6f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Ace Master 12-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Thirsk 6f hcp (4) gf in Jun beating Singeur (9-11) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Whozthecat (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Led, ridden and headed inside fianl 2f, lost place over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Right Touch (9-7) at Pontefract 6f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Grand Spirit (IRE) 5-2fav (9-6) Held up in mid-division, pushed along and effort 3f out, hung right and beaten over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 11 3/4l behind Ghinia (9-9) at Leicester 1m hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Cruise Tothelimit (IRE) 15-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Rural Celebration (9-11) at Ayr 5f hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Dragon King (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Hampered start, in touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Mythmaker (9-3) at Haydock 6f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Royal Connoisseur (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 10, 9 1/4l behind New Bidder (10-4) at Ayr 6f hcp (5) gs in Jul.
