steadied start, held up towards rear, smooth headway, travelling well 2f out, not clear run and switched left over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, went 2nd last strides, not reach winner
pressed leaders, every chance 2f out, ridden and weakened quickly over 1f out
slight lead, ridden and headed 1f out, stayed chasing leaders under pressure, one pace final 100 yards
close up, smooth headway over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, led 1f out, kept on gamely to hold on near finish
held up, some headway under pressure over 2f out, soon ridden and beaten
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to get involved
chased leaders, hung right from halfway, weakened 2f out
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened 2f out
in touch, ridden halfway, weakened soon after
close up, travelling well 2f out, not clear run and switched right over 1f out, hampered approaching final furlong, not recover
held up towards rear, smooth headway 2f out, challenged and every chance 1f out, ran on and pressed winner inside final furlong until lost 2nd last strides
behind, headway on far rail over 2f out, ran on under pressure inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders
always towards rear, never on terms
chased leaders, ridden and pressed leaders 2f out, one pace when not much room over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders 4f
behind from halfway
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway when not clear run briefly over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no threat to leaders
speed to halfway
STRIKING SPIRIT races off the same mark as when runner-up in the Wokingham over C&D last year and should be cherry-ripe now after a couple of runs. He could easily open his account for the season as he usually keeps better company than this. Chiefdom Prince won a Pontefract maiden last month and still has plenty of scope, while Kuanyao bids to extend a six-race winning run that stretches back to October 2009. Crown Choice ran well on his reappearance, while Deacon Blues and Secret Witness were consistent sorts last year and Dungannon twice finished second over the C&D last season. Just as interesting, however, is Joe Packet who never stopped improving last year and has had excuses in both starts this campaign.
Deacon Blues 3-1fav (9-2) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, beaten when hampered inside final furlong, not troubled leaders, 11th of 16, 7l behind Little Garcon (8-11) at Ascot 6f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Sep.
Secret Witness 14-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 21, 6l behind Mac's Power (8-10) at Doncaster 6f hcp 105 (2) gd in Oct.
Striking Spirit 20-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, every chance over 1f out, soon under prerssure and weakened, 5th of 7, 9l behind Hamish McGonagall (8-12) at Musselburgh 5f cond Stakes (2) gs in Apr.
Imperial Guest 10-1 (9-2) Raced far side in touch, ridden to lead and edged right inside final furlong, soon headed, kept on, 4th of 30, 1 1/4l behind Docofthebay (8-12) at Newmarket 7f hcp 105 (2) gd in Oct.
Crown Choice 5-2fav (9-0) In rear, headway over 1f out, soon ridden and brought to outer, kept on well towards finish, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Flipando (9-1) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Apr.
Son of The Cat (USA) 5-2 (9-1) Keen tracked , effort to join leader 2f out, led narrowly over 1f out, ridden and stayed on, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Apr beating Advertisement (9-2) by nk, 2 ran.
Kuanyao (IRE) 3-1fav (9-7) Led, headed over 4f out, tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, led entering final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep beating Swiss Cross (8-12) by 1 3/4l, 17 ran.
Joe Packet 20-1 (9-2) Held up mid-division and keen, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 16th of 20, 9l behind Horseradish (9-3) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
Star Rover (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Raced on stands rail, with leaders, ridden and hung left over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd and closed on winner close home, 2nd of 13, hd behind Enderby Spirit (9-7) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Apr.
Dungannon 16-1 (8-2) Keen mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 16, nk behind Little Garcon (8-11) at Ascot 6f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Sep.
Edinburgh Knight (IRE) 15-2 (8-9) Held up towards rear, headway on outside well over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, led towards finish, won going away, won at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec beating Silaah (8-8) by 1l, 11 ran.
Yer Woman (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Broke well soon steadied to rear, headway on wide outside over 1f out, kept on, never nearer, 5th of 10, 5l behind Agony And Ecstasy (8-12) at Kempton 1m fll lst stks (1) pol in Apr.
Kingsgate Choice (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, driven to challenge well over 1f out, gradually weakened, 11th of 12, 16l behind Joe Packet (9-5) at Sandown 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Sep.
Chiefdom Prince (IRE) 8-15fav (9-11) Made all, ridden and hung badly right inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Pontefract 6f mdn stks (5) gf in Apr beating Redvers (9-0) by 3l, 12 ran.
Mac Gille Eoin 8-1 (9-7) Held up, ridden and kept on final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 9, 5l behind Best Trip (8-12) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Apr.
Sohraab 11-1 (8-7) Chased leader, hard driven halfway, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 7l behind Noble Storm (9-7) at Newbury 5f hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Ghostwing 66-1 (9-1) Always outpaced, last of 14, 18l behind Falasteen (8-13) at Epsom Downs 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr.
Barons Spy (IRE) 16-1 (8-5) Held up, outpaced over 2f out, not trouble leaders, 6th of 9, 7l behind Pastoral Player (9-3) at Ffos Las 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Oct.
Gaily Noble (IRE) 33-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 13, 43l behind Spanish Duke (9-6) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Apr.
Poppanan (USA) 16-1 (8-11) Dwelt, held up mid-division on inner, one pace over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 11th of 14, 12l behind New Leyf (9-6) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
