soon led, headed 5f out and remained in touch, ridden 2f out and weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, quickened to lead 5f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong
in touch, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened
held up, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
took keen hold and held up towards rear, pushed along when outpaced over 3f out, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong
behind, driven along over 4f, ridden over 2f, was never near to challenge
Withdrawn
Im Spartacus was probably flattered by his run in Chester's Dee Stakes but is obviously ahead of the handicapper and gets the vote to go one better here at the main expense of Prize Fighter and Blue Train. The selection is due to go up 21lbs in future handicaps following his short-head defeat behind Gypsy King at Chester and while that may be an over reaction by the handicapper there is no doubting that he is well treated and has ground conditions to suit again. Blue Train looks the pick of Sir Michael Stoute's two runners ahead of Pontefract maiden winner Rohaani and has to be respected back on turf, which should bring about improvement in the son of Sadler's Wells. Mark Johnston's horses are in good form at present so Fiefdom cannot be discounted, while Kames Park made an encouraging return and is another to consider. A bigger threat is likely to come from Peter Chapple-Hyam's Prize Fighter, for who Kieren Fallon has been booked. The son of Desert Sun showed decent form on the all-weather, and on turf, last term and should improve for the step up in trip. Im Spartacus has an obvious chance though and gets the vote.
Fiefdom (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Led, headed after 2f but remained in touch, pushed along over 2f out and weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 14l behind Comic Strip (8-11) at Pontefract 1m 2yo lst stk (A1) gd in Oct.
Prize Fighter (IRE) 2-5fav (9-7) Prominent and keen, led 2f out, soon ridden and hung left, headed post, 2nd of 10, hd behind Caitlin (8-1) at Southwell 7f 2yo hcp (E) fbs in Jul.
Blue Train (IRE) 6-4fav (8-9) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, won at W'hampton 1m 1f mdn stk (5) pol in Apr beating Fullandby (8-9) by 1l, 12 ran.
Kames Park (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Steadied start, pulled hard and held up behind leaders, shaken up to chase winner and carried head high 2f out, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 3, 6l behind Plea Bargain (9-0) at Sandown 1m 3yo stk (3) gd in Apr.
Im Spartacus 33-1 (8-8) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Gypsy King (8-8) at Chester 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gs.
Nanton (USA) 4-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, ridden over 1f out, ran on final furlong, edged right and led near finish, won at Lingfield 1m nov med aut stk (D3) pol in Dec beating Reaching Out (8-12) by 1l, 8 ran.
Rohaani (USA) 7-1 (9-0) In touch, ran wide on bend after 2f, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on to lead inside final furlong, won at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Apr beating Ebtikaar (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Thunderwing (IRE) 16-1 (8-8) Prominent, ridden over 3f out, not clear run over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 14l behind Gypsy King (8-8) at Chester 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gs.
