chased leaders, weakened over 6f out, tailed off over 3f out
held up in touch, headway to challenge 4f out, soon ridden, weakened entering final furlong
behind, headway over 5f out, ridden over 4f out, stayed on final furlong, led close home
held up, ridden and weakened over 4f out
held up, weakened 5f out
held up mid-division, headway over 4f out, stayed on same pace
mid-division weakened over 4f out
held up, ridden and headway over 4f out, one pace
held up in rear, ridden over 4f out, never dangerous
chased clear leader, ridden well over 2f out, soon weakened
led, soon clear, ridden and headed 4f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, led 4f out, soon ridden, kept on final furlong, headed close home
Great As Gold finished a close up third in this event 12 months ago off the same mark as today and having had a slightly better preparation this year is taken to win today with the main threats looking to be Rule For Ever and Noddies Way. The last mentioned has a nice racing weight and, while yet to prove that he stays this far, is stoutly bred so should appreciate the marathon distance and has to be respected. Toni Alcala is a consistent performer but tends to find at least one too good and may have to settle for a minor role again, while Iloveturtle has been running well over fences of late but faces no easy task on his return to the flat for the fist time in three years. Liberman has plenty of weight to carry, while Compton Commander is hard to recommend on recent evidence. Rule For Ever would have claims if staying but a safer option looks to be Great As Gold, who is taken to gain a deserved success.
Liberman (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Led, ridden over 3f, weakened over 2f, last of 10, 40l behind Synonymy (8-1) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcap (5) pol in Oct.
Rule For Ever 9-1 (9-12) Held up, headway over 5 out, ridden over 3f out, no impression, 5th of 13, 13l behind Tribe (9-10) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Great As Gold (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Held up, headway 8f out, led over 3f out, ridden and headed well over 2f out, one pace, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Tribe (9-10) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Compton Commander 33-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, 11th of 13, 16l behind Vice Admiral (8-9) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Aug.
Columbus (IRE) 80-1 (9-4) Prominent, weakened over 3f out, 5th of 16, 23l behind Desert Storm (10-0) at Nottingham 2m hcp 0-65 (6) hvy in Oct.
Toni Alcala 12-1 (8-13) Held up, pushed along over 4f out, headway over 2f out, ran on final furlong, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind I'll Do It Today (9-5) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
Water Pistol 66-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden along over 5f out, soon behind, last of 15, 20l behind I'll Do It Today (9-5) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
True (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 15, 1 1/2l behind I'll Do It Today (9-5) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
Spectested (IRE) 50-1 (8-7) Very slow away and reluctant to race, always well behind, 10th of 13, well behind Tribe (9-10) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Iloveturtle (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened final 2f, 6th of 10, 14l behind Super Fellow (8-4) at Thirsk 2m hcp (F) gs in Aug '04.
Jamaican Flight (USA) 100-1 (8-7) Led early, chased leaders, weakened over 4f out, tailed off, 9th of 13, 27l behind Tribe (9-10) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Noddies Way 6-1 (8-1) In touch, ridden 3f out, stayed on final 2f, never nearer, 4th of 12, 6l behind Lorikeet (9-6) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
