tracked leader, clear with leader over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon headed, no extra
keen in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
slow into stride, in rear, plenty to do 2f out, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
raced wide took keen hold, tracked leaders, taken back after 4f, in touch, ridden and weakened 2f out
held up, headway and very wide into straight 2f out, soon chased clear leaders, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, led final strides
raced wide headway to track leaders after 2f, led 9f out, ridden clear with one other over 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
led, headed 9f out, tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
keen tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place over 3f out
keen in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
Gran Maestro has not run on the all-weather since the surface here was Polytrack. However, he has staged something of a revival over hurdles lately and looks better treated than returning stablemate Ballyfarsoon, a winner three times here but having a first start for a new yard today. Lady Makfi has won twice around here and is starting to slip down the weights again. She’s tried in cheekpieces and could figure if they have the desired effect. MAJROOH shoulders top weight and has been hard to keep sound but George Peckham is persisting with the six-year-old and there was plenty to like about yet another comeback over a trip too short at Lingfield last month.
Majrooh (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Exceeding Power (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Chantecler 8-1 (12-0) Led until 7th, chased leader until approaching next, chased leaders, weakened on long run before 3 out, 6th of 15, dist behind Eddy (10-7) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Cry Wolf 8-1 (9-6) Held up, ridden 3f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 9, 6l behind Sonnetist (9-4) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Lady Makfi (IRE) 13-2 (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 3l behind The Resdev Way (10-2) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Richard Strauss (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Prominent, ridden and every chance when bumped before 2 out, soon edged left, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 14, 8 3/4l behind Wot A Shot (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Scrafton 7-1 (12-1) Keen early, held up in last pair, mistake 5th, pushed along in 4th on long run to 2 out, weakened between last 2, 7th of 8, 27 1/4l behind Ratify (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Belabour 8-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, short-lived effort on wide outside over 2f out, soon outpaced, never dangerous after, 6th of 11, 8 3/4l behind Jack Bear (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Gran Maestro (USA) 3-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, lost place after 3 out, 6th of 9, 13 1/2l behind Reverant Cust (11-12) at Catterick 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Ballyfarsoon (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden inside final 2f, went 2nd over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, led and going away inside final 100 yards, won at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (6) pol in Oct beating Hermarna (9-9) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Cosmic Tigress 11-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out, 8th of 11, 37 1/2l behind Soiesauvage (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gs in Sep.
