chased leader, pushed along to keep pace 3 out, challenged leader 2 out but soon outpaced, kept on same pace from last, lost 2nd close home
made all, increased tempo home turn, pressed 2 out, few lengths clear last, kept on well flat, readily
held up, pushed along and struggling home turn, pulled up before 2 out
held up, pulled hard early, pushed along from 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out
always towards rear, struggling when pulled up after 4 out
chased leader, pushed along from 4 out towards rear, plugged on from 2 out, stayed on well from last, snatched 2nd close home
Meritorious didn’t look an easy ride on the Flat when trained by John Gosden but did win over 1m4f on soft going at Newmarket and a switch to hurdling may improve his demeanour. His yard won this in both 2019 and 2020. Collingham was well ahead of Oot Ma Way when second to Skycutter over track and trip last month but, like the exposed Catterick winner Inca Prince, has a penalty to carry. French import INDIVIDUALISTE looked a stayer in the making on the Flat in the spring and will have had plenty of schooling over hurdles since joining Paul Nicholls’ yard.
Collingham (GER) 3-1 (11-3) Chased clear winner, ridden and closed 2 out, kept on one pace run in, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Skycutter (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m (2) gs in Dec.
Inca Prince (IRE) 85-40fav (10-12) Raced keenly, made all, clear when wandered into 3rd, ridden out, unchallenged, won at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Dec beating Monsieur Pom Pom (10-12) by 6 1/2l, 13 ran.
Individualiste (FR) (9-2) 3rd of 14, 9l behind Agent Empire (9-2) at Chateaubriant 1m 5f mdn stks in May.
Meritorious 11-4 (9-7) Keen tracked leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in May beating Baileys Derbyday (9-1) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Push For Sixty 66-1 (10-12) Keen, raced in last, pushed along home turn, lost touch soon after, 5th of 6, dist behind Collingham (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Oot Ma Way (FR) 40-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakening when mistake next, tailed off, 4th of 6, 35 1/2l behind Skycutter (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m (2) gs in Dec.
