slowly away, in rear, headway on outer over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
held up mid-division on outer, pushed along over 3f out, soon lost place
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
tracked leaders, headway over 2f out, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, just held on
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, one pace
held up behind, headway on inner over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up in touch, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on towards finish
led, headed 2f out, soon ridden, weakened entering straight
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on towards finish, just held
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace
held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
behind, some headway on inner over 3f out, weakened 2f out
There have been some shock results in this recently, which is hardly surprising. Direct Answer has been lightly raced and was having only his second handicap start when just caught by Colour Scheme at Yarmouth. Gunslinger had been racing over hurdles before reverting to the Flat and scoring over this trip at Epsom but a 7lb rise looks harsh. Red Jade has returned from a long break to run two excellent races at York and will be at his peak for this while Nezhenka, who was thought to be Listed class last season, will be better for last week's belated reappearance at Haydock. Romeo Montague is blinkered for the first time and looks as though he needs them while A Boy Named Suzi has found 1m6f stretching his stamina since scoring over this trip at Kempton. EAGLE ROCK won a strong maiden at Ripon and makes his handicap debut. The runner-up has won subsequently and is now rated 85 so Tom Tate's charge could have been let in here lightly.
Red Jade 5-1fav (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway on outside 3f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 1 3/4l behind Trip The Light (9-3) at York 1m 4f app hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (4) gd.
Gunslinger (FR) 25-1 (9-4) Dwelt in rear, headway on outer over 2f out, edged left and led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Epsom Downs 1m 4f app hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sep beating Shesha Bear (9-5) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Sea Of Galilee 12-1 (9-10) Raced wide, held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, effort and hung left over 1f out, stayed on to 3rd inside final furlong, kept on closing stages, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Area Fifty One (9-1) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Nezhenka 33-1 (10-0) Keen in rear, headway 3f out, no impression final 2f, 7th of 11, 7l behind All My Heart (9-3) at Haydock 2m hcp 0-85 (4) hvy.
Direct Answer (USA) 11-2 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Colour Scheme (9-5) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Sep.
Mister Angry (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, never involved, 8th of 10, 18l behind Seaside Sizzler (10-0) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Romeo Montague 9-1 (8-4) Slowly away in rear, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden to join winner inside final furlong when edged left, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Con Artist (9-9) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Sep.
Royal Swain (IRE) 7-1 (9-12) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 3f out, kept on well inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 6l behind Jeu De Vivre (8-12) at Hamilton 1m 5f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Sep.
Comedy Act 5-2 (9-3) Held up in 4th, went 2nd over 4f out, led 3f out, ridden and headed 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Trip The Light (9-12) at Catterick 1m 4f clm stks (6) sft.
Epic (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Held up in mid-division on outside, headway over 3f out, led 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Trip The Light (9-3) at York 1m 4f app hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (4) gd.
A Boy Named Suzi 4-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, driven to challenge over 1f out, 3rd and not pace of leading duo final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Lordofthehouse (8-13) at Haydock 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Sep.
Eagle Rock (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Made all, ridden 2f out, stayed on gamely when hard pressed inside final furlong, held on near finish, won at Ripon 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gd in Sep beating Yasir (9-3) by nk, 10 ran.
Hot Spice 85-40fav (9-2) Soon settled in 3rd, effort on outside 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Franciscan (9-6) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Baltic Light (USA) 7-1 (9-2) Slowly away, in rear, hampered after 1f, never a factor, eased over 1f out, last of 13, well behind Samarkand (8-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jun.
Duquesa (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway on wide outside over 2f out, chased leading pair 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong soon clear, won at Windsor 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf beating Peachez (9-2) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Red Fama 22-1 (9-6) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 11, 42l behind All My Heart (9-3) at Haydock 2m hcp 0-85 (4) hvy.
Ivory Jazz 66-1 (9-6) Soon led, headed 5f out, soon hung left over 4f out, pushed along and weakened 3f out, last of 10, 31l behind Jonny Lesters Hair (9-3) at Beverley 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
Flying Power 6-1 (9-2) Led, ridden and strongly pressed from over 2f out, headed near finish, 2nd of 15, nk behind Countess Comet (9-7) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.