fractious in stalls, in rear, pushed along and no response well over 2f out
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened very quickly over 2f out
tracked leaders on rail, squeezed between rivals 1f out, ridden briefly and led over 110 yards out, pushed out and kept on well, readily
led, pushed along 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed over 110 yards out, ran on but no match for winner
slowly into stride, in rear, headway into 4th halfway, pushed along over 2f out, switched left inside last, stayed on and took 3rd close home, not trouble leaders, better for race
prominent, ridden well over 1f out, hung left 1f out, no extra over 110 yards out, lost 3rd towards finish
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out,
dwelt, towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
The previous winners, Pastiche and NINE TENTHS (NAP), could fight out the finish of this. Preference is for the Haggas runner, who easily justified favouritism at Newcastle in November after a promising debut on Turf in a race at Doncaster that’s worked out well. The former is having a first run on this surface while stablemate Crow's Nest is making his racecourse debut. Fierce is consistent but is looking a bit exposed having already run three times in handicaps. Extinction looks the pick of the older horses.
Extinction (USA) 11-2 (10-2) Close up, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Owl Island (9-4) at Chelmsford City 7f stks (5) pol in May.
Love Whisper (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Raced wide, close up, pushed along and outpaced 2f out, last of 5, 12 1/2l behind Nogo's Dream (9-4) at Wolverhampton 5f mdn stks (4) pol in Mar.
Nine Tenths (IRE) 15-8fav (9-2) Towards rear, pushed 2f out, stayed on into 2nd entering final furlong, ridden to lead late on, won going away, won at Newcastle 6f mdn fll stks (5) pol in Nov beating Cariad Angel (9-2) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Pastiche 9-4 (9-2) Soon led, headed over 4f out, pushed along to lead again inside final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 7f mdn fll stks (4) pol in Oct beating Canadiansmokeshow (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Crow's Nest (IRE) U S Navy Flag gelding out of Argentina.
Fierce (IRE) 9-2 (9-9) Towards rear of main group, headway when not much room entering final furlong, ran on to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 13, 3 3/4l behind Quinault (9-8) at Newmarket 6f hcp (5) gd in May.
Moonlight Dreamer Oasis Dream colt out of Peace Dreamer.
Moulin Booj (IRE) 22-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, last of 10, 16 1/2l behind Cruise (9-1) at Southwell 6f mdn stks (5) pol in May.
