slowly away, chased leaders, effort over 1f out, never on terms
in touch, lost place over 2f out
behind, headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, nearest finish
mid-division, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, never on terms
dwelt, in touch, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, never a threat
outpaced in rear, never a factor
led, hard ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
went left start, prominent, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on well
chased leaders, weakened halfway
slowly into stride, always behind
prominent, effort well over 1f out, faded final furlong
mid-division, driven halfway, never dangerous
awkward start, always behind
in touch, under pressure halfway, weakened over 1f out
Last year's winner Royal Bajan has won twice since but is 12lb higher this time round. Scarborough was third off a lower mark last term while stablemate Shipyard finished behind fourth-placed Come On Dave at Chelmsford last month. Rita's Boy beat Keep It Dark at Nottingham but the latter reversed the form in a lower class sprint here on his latest start when also beating Even Stevens and Sleepy Blue Ocean. Mappin Time has something to find with Keep It Dark on earlier form at Ripon and Zac Brown hasn’t raced since May. MEADWAY failed to figure in better company at Doncaster last time but has raced twice over track and trip previously and won on both occasions. Bryan Smart's sprinter gets a tentative vote to come good again in this.
Zac Brown (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden well over 1f out, weakened over 1f out, 13th of 15, 5 1/2l behind Out Do (9-7) at York 5f hcp stks (2) gd in May.
Royal Bajan (USA) 9-2 (8-8) Led soon clear, headed approaching final furlong, faded, 5th of 7, 7l behind Distant Past (9-7) at Musselburgh 5f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Mappin Time (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) In rear, ridden over 1f out, never a factor, 10th of 12, 3 3/4l behind Medicean Man (9-7) at Chelmsford City 5f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Shipyard (USA) 5-1fav (8-10) In rear, ridden 2f out, never a factor, 8th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Medicean Man (9-7) at Chelmsford City 5f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Dungannon 10-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 14th of 18, 8 1/4l behind Easy Road (9-3) at Doncaster 5f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Astrophysics 16-1 (9-6) Prominent, lost place over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 7th of 9, 7 1/2l behind Judicial (9-1) at Kempton 5f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Come On Dave (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) Soon led, headed halfway, rallied to lead again entering final furlong, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 4th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Medicean Man (9-7) at Chelmsford City 5f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Meadway 33-1 (8-2) Close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 18, 13 3/4l behind Easy Road (9-3) at Doncaster 5f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Scarborough (IRE) 16-1 (8-6) Taken to post early, slow into stride, in touch, ridden 2f out, not trouble leaders, 6th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Lightscameraction (9-7) at Lingfield 5f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Rita's Boy (IRE) 6-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 2l behind Keep It Dark (9-0) at Southwell 5f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Even Stevens 20-1 (8-4) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 12, 8 1/2l behind Medicean Man (9-7) at Chelmsford City 5f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Dark Side Dream 25-1 (9-7) Slowly away towards rear, ridden 2f out, nearest finish, 6th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Hoofalong (9-1) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Keep It Dark 14-1 (9-0) In touch, headway when carried head high inside final furlong, shaken up to lead towards finish, won at Southwell 5f hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Even Stevens (9-7) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Sleepy Blue Ocean 12-1 (9-4) Led 1f, tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Keep It Dark (9-0) at Southwell 5f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
