led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, went 2nd halfway, led well over 1f out, driven out
soon outpaced, effort over 1f out, never near leaders
took keen hold, soon prominent, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up, not clear run halfway, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace
slowly into stride, held up, headway on inside over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
pressed leader 2f, weakening when hampered well over 1f out, soon drifted left
held up, hung badly left from 2f out, headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, not run on
prominent 2f
Nonrunner
A tough race to call here for punters with very little between many of the leading lights but the principals look to be Strabinios King, Methaaly and Memphis Man and the tentative nomination is given to Methaaly. The selection was a fair second behind Realt Na Mara last time out, looks sure to have the race run to suit and he looks a value bet in an open affair. Strabinios King rates the main danger on his latest fourth behind Pearlachy but his best form to date has come over a longer trip. Memphis Man was a fair second behind Stolt last time and is another with place claims but he was never nearer than at the finish on that occasion and he may be better over further these days. Bel Cantor has yet to win at the track and has been done no favours by the draw while Grimes Faith looks vulnerable under top weight and with this in mind for the winner we return to Methaaly.
Grimes Faith 6-1 (9-4) Pressed leader, led over 5f out until 3f out, weakened quickly well over 2f out, tailed off, last of 11, 43l behind Painted Sky (9-0) at W'hampton 7f hcap (5) pol.
Mr Lambros 22-1 (9-0) Soon outpaced, hampered over 1f out, never nearer, 5th of 8, 3 1/2l behind First Order (9-2) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Back In The Red (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Soon outpaced, no impression and slightly hampered inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 7l behind Silver Prelude (8-10) at W'hampton 5f hcap (5) pol.
Royal Challenge 11-4 (9-7) Held up, ridden well over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 3l behind Realt Na Mara (8-12) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Parkview Love (USA) 8-1 (9-4) In touch until ridden and weakened over 2f out, 5th of 7, 18l behind Kabeer (8-12) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Memphis Man 8-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, headway when not clear run and switched left 1f out, every chance well inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 7, shd behind Stolt (9-0) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Norcroft 9-2jt-fav (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 9l behind Brandywell Boy (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Strabinios King 9-4fav (9-4) Mid-division, not clear run 2f out, headway over 1f out, not clear entering final furlong, soon switched right and faltered, ran on, 4th of 12, 1/2l behind Perlachy (8-12) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Hill of Lujain 14-1 (8-6) Chased leader, ridden to lead 2f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Teasing (9-5) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Methaaly (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Led, ridden well over 1f out, headed close home, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Realt Na Mara (8-12) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Bel Cantor 5-1 (8-1) Chased leaders, ridden along halfway, driven and one paced final furlong, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Ingleby Arch (8-13) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs.
