There was plenty of solid form on display here, but ultimately this represents little better than a useful level at the end of what proved a slightly messy race, the pace on the steady side until halfway. The winner’s final 2f of 23.73s (106.3% finishing speed) is not especially quick, even on what was predominantly soft ground, and neither was his overall time. The runners stuck close to the far rail and a couple had interrupted passages.
(111 here, 119 previously) duly justified favouritism, but with little to spare, likely to prove at least as good back at 8f/9f. He was soon in 2nd, was shaken up fully 3f out and led under pressure approaching the final 1f, kept right up to his work thereafter.
(110 here, 99 previously) improved in showing very useful form despite things not going entirely his way, bumped at the start then taking a good hold in mid-field, short of room before quickening to challenge inside the final 1f and only just held. This was a messy contest but he is worth at least one chance to confirm the improvement.
(106+ here, 109 previously) would have been closer still and run to form but for getting a poor run up the rail in the penultimate 1f, though he was one paced for pressure when in the clear late on.
(106+ here, 108 previously) ran creditably and shaped better than the result, set a bit to do in rear before finishing well.
(104 here, 107 previously) was close to form despite taking a while to get in the clear on a rare outing at this longer trip, never nearer.
(99 here and previously) could not sustain a promising effort out wide but still ran to form.
(95 here, 110 previously) found little after leading narrowly for a long way, looking as if her enterprising 2nd in the Irish 1,000 flatters her.
(96 here, 109 previously) looked a difficult ride (not for the first time) in running poorly.
(93 here, 109 previously)
(87 here, 104 previously)
