keen tracked winner, hit 3rd, led soon after, headed 5th, chased winner, soon ridden, struggling from 3 out, lost 2nd near finish
led, headed soon after 3rd, led again 5th, clear 2 out, heavily eased run in, very easy
close up, ridden and outpaced 3 out, kept on to go remote 2nd near finish
close up in rear, struggling from halfway
not fluent tracked leaders until dropped to rear after 3rd, struggling from halfway
DUKE OF MEDINA faced only five rivals on his hurdling bow at Ludlow but ran well for second behind an odds-on favourite. That experience should stand him in good stead and he is preferred to Quill Art. The latter also made a decent start over timber when fourth at Wetherby and beat Stormin Tom and Poet Mark in the process. Denton Carnival is harder to fancy having has just the one start on the Flat when well beaten over 5f last year.
Denton Carnival (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, behind and outpaced, ridden over 1f out, stayed on into mid-division inside final furlong, never near leaders, 6th of 10, 8 3/4l behind Prince Bonnaire (8-13) at Redcar 5f mdn stks (5) gs in May.
Duke Of Medina (IRE) 11-2fav (10-12) Led, not fluent 4th, jumped slowly and headed 6th, went right 3 out, no impression and edged left flat, stayed on, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Duke Street (10-12) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Poet Mark (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden after last, one pace and no impression, 6th of 13, 10 3/4l behind Our Thomas (10-12) at Wetherby 2m mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Quill Art 17-2 (10-12) Held up mid-division, mistake last, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 8 1/2l behind Our Thomas (10-12) at Wetherby 2m mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Stormin Tom (IRE) 4-1fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 5th of 13, 10 3/4l behind Our Thomas (10-12) at Wetherby 2m mdn (5) gs in Oct.
