towards rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out
in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on to take 4th inside final furlong
tracked leader, led over 2f out, stayed on well, driven out
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd place close home, no chance with winner
led, headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders in 3rd and keen, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon chased winner until no extra close home
Withdrawn
Plenty to choose from in this competitive handicap. Poetic Verse completed a hat-trick when scoring at Windsor, though she's been raised another 7lb and is upped in class for this. Lion Beacon's strong finish over the stiff 1m4f at Beverley last time suggests today's longer trip will suit and Dali's Lover should also last home having scored over a shorter distance at Chepstow recently. Argent Knight won over this trip at Nottingham on his return to action and is another who could figure but a speculative vote goes to winning debutant DEIRA PHANTOM. David Simcock's charge is the least exposed in the field after scoring at Salisbury earlier this month and can follow up under William Buick.
Deira Phantom (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, just held on, won at Salisbury 1m 4f 3yo mdn (5) gf beating Baihas (9-5) by shd, 5 ran.
Poetic Verse 7-2fav (9-3) Held up last, smooth headway on outside to 3rd over 2f out, led on bit over 1f out, pushed clear final furlong, easily, won at Windsor 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr beating El Massivo (9-2) by 2l, 6 ran.
Lion Beacon 6-4fav (9-7) Held up in touch, headway on inner over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on well to lead towards finish, won at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf beating Good Speech (9-4) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Dali's Lover (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders in 4th, headway to 3rd over 2f out, went 2nd well over 1f out, led over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well final furlong, won at Chester 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf beating Good Evans (8-10) by 2l, 9 ran.
Argent Knight 15-8fav (8-12) Tracked leader, switched right to challenge well over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on well, won at Nottingham 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd beating Moaning Butcher (8-6) by 2l, 5 ran.
Forced Family Fun 20-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 17l behind Lamusawama (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f 3yo stks 0-70 (5) pol.
Color Shades 7-1 (9-4) Pressed leader, led narrowly over 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 5l behind Thwart (8-11) at Kempton 1m 3f 3yo flls hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Ballinderry Boy 12-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd 1f out, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Refer (8-9) at Bath 1m 4f mdn auc stks (5) gf in Apr.
Khotan 4-6fav (11-4) Prominent on outside, headway under pressure over 2f out, ridden to challenge when edged left inside final 2f, led narrowly inside final furlong, headed final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Darakti (10-0) at Doncaster 1m 4f 3yo amt hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Enaitch (IRE) 50-1 (8-12) Mid-division, weakened over 3f out, 5th of 7, 17l behind Secret Gesture (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 3f 3yo lst fll (1) gd.
