tracked leading trio, hard ridden and stayed on same pace final 2f
led, headed 2f out, stayed challenging, ridden when not much room on rail approaching final furlong, soon switched right, no impression
mid-division, headway to track leading pair over 4f out, went 2nd over 2f out, led 2f out, driven and stayed on well
held up in mid-division, effort when hampered over 2f out, soon driven, weakened approaching final furlong
prominent, went 2nd 7f out to over 2f out, weakened quickly
held up in mid-division, effort on outside over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, struggled final 3f
tracked leaders to 7f out, not run on and lost place 5f out, soon tailed off, virtually pulled up over 1f out
held up last, switched right to wide outside from 3f out, stayed on under pressure from over 1f out
always behind
mid-division, brief effort on outside over 2f out, soon weakened
held up, headway and effort on outside over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
keen hold in mid-division, pulled way up to go prominent 12f out, weakened over 4f out, tailed off when virtually pulled up over 1f out
took keen hold and held up towards rear, headway to track leaders over 8f out, pushed along 4f out, weakened 3f out
This marathon contest looks wide open and Race The Ace, Historic Place and Afrad all have claims, however we will take a chance with Circassian. This is a big step up in trip for Sir Mark Prescott's four-year-old, but he has always looked an out and out stayer. He was plodding on well at the end of all his races last season and with the yard about to hit top form he could be the likely winner. Afrad has been successful over two miles and a furlong over hurdles and hit winning form on the flat last time, beating some seasoned handicappers at Newmarket. He shouldn't have too much trouble with the extra distance and looks to be a threat to all. Race The Ace was beaten two lengths by today's rival Fortune Island at Newmarket last time but should reverse the form at today's weights, he should be in the shake up. Meanwhile Historic Place stays all day and is another to consider for each-way purposes. Ten Carat may do best of the others, but even with the trip being unknown territory Circassian is the tentative choice.
Fortune Island (IRE) 10-3 (10-5) Held up, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Jeepstar (10-0) at Beverley 2m hcp (4) gf.
Ten Carat 9-2 (9-7) Soon led, headed over 1m out, lost place and dropped well to rear over 3f out, ran on again to take 4th near finish, 4th of 11, 8l behind Fortune Island (9-1) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) gs.
Afrad (FR) 14-1 (9-7) Held up, headway over 5f out, led over 2f out, driven and hung left inside final furlong, won at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (3) gs beating Tedstale (9-5) by 1l, 20 ran.
Circassian (IRE) Evensfav (9-3) Tracked leaders, challenged from halfway, led narrowly 4f out to over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 10, 6l behind Winners Delight (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo hcp (D2) pol in Oct.
Moonshine Beach 4-1 (9-13) Led early, prominent, driven along from 4f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind The Nawab (8-9) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp (5) gf.
Historic Place (USA) 4-1fav (9-13) Mid-division, headway and not clear run briefly over 2f out, ridden to go 2nd over 1f out, edged right, stayed on, not trouble winner, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Moonshine Beach (9-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (5) gs.
Random Quest 16-1 (8-13) Started slowly, took keen hold in rear, headway over 6f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 14th of 16, 34l behind Golden Quest (8-8) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Fourth Dimension (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) In rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 17l behind Tight Squeeze (8-13) at Pontefract 1m 4f app hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Theatre (USA) 6-1 (10-0) Started slowly, always in rear until kept on from 2f out, never dangerous, 6th of 9, 5l behind Papeete (8-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) gf.
Establishment 20-1 (8-2) Held up in rear, headway 5f out, soon ridden, one pace final 2f, 6th of 11, 9l behind Fortune Island (9-1) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) gs.
Jayer Gilles 14-1 (9-8) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on, not reach leaders, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Moonshine Beach (9-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (5) gs.
Bobsleigh 16-1 (9-2) Held up behind, headway over 2f out, ridden to challenge and every chance over 1f out, short of room and checked, not recover, 5th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Papeete (8-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) gf.
Frontlinefinancier 9-2fav (9-4) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and chased leader over 1f out, ran on, won at Folkestone 2m hcp (6) gd beating Lord Nellsson (9-4) by 2l, 13 ran.
Kaluana Court 5-2fav (8-4) Held up in touch, headway 2f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 2l behind The Nawab (8-9) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp (5) gf.
Race The Ace 5-1 (9-5) Held up in rear, improved over 8f out, ridden to chase winner 2f out, soon no impression, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Fortune Island (9-1) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) gs.
