held up in touch, ridden and headway over 2f out, soon chasing winner, strong challenge inside final furlong, no extra close home
held up towards rear, headway from 2f out, stayed on never nearer
held up mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden to challenge 3f out, weakened over 1f out
soon prominent, took keen hold, effort over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
steadied start, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, soon no impression
made all, ridden over 2f out, pressed inside final furlong, stayed on gamely
tracked leaders, keen early, lost place 3f out, soon beaten
always behind
mid-division, driven over 4f out, soon no impression
Amazing King showed improved form when successful for the first time on turf at Yarmouth last month but a 6lb rise for that success makes this more difficult for the five-year-old and preference is for the consistent DONTPAYTHEFERRYMAN, who gets the vote over Hawkit. Peter Monteith's gelding was brought down at Ayr last time and, if he is none the worse for that, he has solid claims on the evidence of his previous start at the same venue when a close second behind Ibrox. Three-year-olds generally do well against their older rivals at this time of year and Beverley winner Berriedale and Jim Goldie's Tillietudlem, who has finished a fair third in each of his last two starts, look the pick of the classic generation. The older horses are likely to hold sway here though and a bigger threat is likely to come from Ian Semple's Ulysees, who ran well under testing conditions when a good third behind Brandane at Ayr when last seen in November. He has every chance if fit enough for his reappearance but preference is for Dontpaytheferryman. Richard Fahey's gelding showed improved form behind Castlebury, who runs in the previous race, at Pontefract last time and a reproduction of that sort of form should suffice in this company.
Amazing King (IRE) 6-1 (9-9) Led after 2f, clear over 3f out, unchallenged, won at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Jul beating Galiotto (8-4) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Hawkit (USA) 12-1 (9-1) Behind, brought down over 3f out, in a race won by Whaston (8-10) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul, 12 ran.
Dontpaytheferryman (USA) 11-8fav (8-10) Keen, led, joined over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, short of room and stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Castlebury (9-5) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jul.
Sharp Sovereign (USA) 12-1 (9-0) Mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 13, 26l behind Speed Dating (9-1) at Carlisle 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jul.
Ulysees (IRE) 17-2 (8-11) Held up, headway over 2f out, chased winner approaching final furlong until lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Brandane (9-1) at Ayr 1m 1f hcap (6) hvy in Nov.
Shifting Gold (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Led, headed well over 4f out, lost place over 3f out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 22l behind Lucky Punt (9-7) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (0-65) (6) fbs in Jun.
Oh Landino (GER) 80-1 (8-2) Held up in rear, keen early, ridden over 2f out, well beaten over 1f out, last of 9, 18l behind Forrest Flyer (9-4) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jul.
Berriedale 28-1 (8-10) Mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, switched outside and headway over 1f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 14, 7l behind Sparkaway (8-2) at Pontefract 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun.
Tillietudlem (FR) 8-1 (8-4) Held up towards rear, effort over 4f out, outpaced, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Alicante (9-5) at Hamilton 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Jul.
