chased leader, nudged along after 4 out, headway to challenge 3 out, soon ridden, went second 2 out, kept on but no match for winner
held up, nudged along approaching 2 out, ridden and went third before last, kept on flat
raced in third, niggled along approaching 3 out, smooth headway to lead before 2 out, ridden and went clear approaching last, impressive
led, pushed along and headed before 2 out where not fluent, no extra approaching last
Sky Pirate has twice had a rear view of Before Midnight this season but Jonjo O’Neill’s charge has much the best of the weights of that pair today. However, neither will get close to Greaneteen and SHISHKIN if those two are at the top of their game. The latter gets 3lb from the Tingle Creek winner and that should give him the edge even though he is having a first run since a Grade 1 victory at Aintree in April having had a wind operation since.
Greaneteen (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Jumped well, kept wide tracking leaders, went close 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, clear before the last, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in, won at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec beating Hitman (11-7) by 5 1/2l, 5 ran.
Sky Pirate 5-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 3 out, steady headway 2 out, held every chance last, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Before Midnight (10-11) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Shishkin (IRE) 1-8fav (11-4) Chased leader, led before 5th, shaken up after 2 out, 2 1/2 lengths ahead last, ridden flat, stayed on, won at Aintree 2m (1) gs in Apr beating Funambule Sivola (11-4) by 3 1/4l, 5 ran.
Before Midnight 11-4fav (10-11) Made all, ridden 2 out, 1 length clear last, faced strong challenge run in, all out, just held on, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Amoola Gold (11-3) by shd, 7 ran.
