led, headed 5f out, pushed along over 3f out, weakened 1f out
held up, pushed along 3f out, ridden and behind when edged left 1f out
held up, not clear run on inside over 3f out, headway 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, kept on, not reached winner
held up towards rear, headway 3f out, not clear run and switched right 2f out, kept on to go 3rd inside final furlong
mid-division, headway 4f out, beaten when checked 2f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon lost place
tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, soon drifted left
with leader, led 5f out, clear over 1f out, kept on
raced keenly, tracked leaders, chased winner 3f out until over 1f out, no extra
A very tricky finale, with Hawridge King just getting the nod over Muraco and Dig Gold. The selection returned from a successful jumps campaign to get the better of the good yardstick Squirtle over fourteen furlongs at Haydock. The drop back in trip shouldn't be a problem and a big run is expected. Dig Gold looked on the way back last time when finishing runner up to Natural Action at Lingfield. Off this current mark he has to be a major threat. Muraco showed tremendous courage to land a handicap last time out and has only been raised a couple of pounds, so must come into the argument. Thorny Mandate looks the best of the rest, but we return to Hawridge King as the more likely winner.
Is It Me (USA) 11-2 (9-4) Stumbled start, led, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on gamely, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Fisher Bridge (9-7) at Leicester 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) frm.
Thyolo (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, ridden over 3f out, never on terms, 15th of 16, 23l behind Tifernati (9-6) at Newbury 1m 4f ldy rds hcp (4) gd.
Hawridge King 7-2 (9-2) In touch, headway to lead 2f out, soon ridden, driven and kept on final furlong, won at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gf beating Squirtle (8-4) by 1l, 10 ran.
Wheelavit (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Behind, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 13, 4l behind Sky Quest (9-7) at Sandown 1m 2f app hcp (5) gd.
Thorny Mandate 8-1 (8-9) Dwelt, held up behind, ridden and headway when not much room over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 11, 2l behind Prelude (8-7) at Chester 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Smart John 50-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, effort and driven over 2f out, soon hung left and weakened, 10th of 16, 24l behind Wait For The Will (11-2) at Windsor 1m 4f amt hcp 0-80 (5) gf.
Muraco 9-4fav (9-4) In touch, headway over 7f out, led over 4f out, driven from 2f out, held on gamely final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 3f hcp 0-70 (5) gf beating Cormorant Wharf (10-0) by a shd, 7 ran.
Dig Gold (USA) 5-2 (9-0) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, going well over 3f out, led inside final 3f, headed entering final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Natural Action (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 6f mdn stk (5) gf.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Led, set good pace headed just over 2f out, kept on until weakened over 1f out, 4th of 14, 6l behind Raise The Goblet (8-10) at Kempton 1m 3f 3yo hcp (5) pol.
