chased leaders early, settled into mid-division, effort over 3f out, challenged 1f out, led well inside final furlong, carried right, headed last stride
held up in 5th, effort over 2f out, challenged entering final furlong, 3rd and held towards finish
soon led, headed over 2f out, one pace and beaten final furlong
chased leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, led over 2f out, edged right and headed well inside final furlong, kept edging right, led last stride
led early, chased leader until over 4f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in 6th, headway when not much room over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
slow to break, held up in rear, headway on outside 2f out, stayed on same pace final 100 yards
MAJESTIC STONE made an encouraging reappearance at Newcastle and showed the benefit with a narrow victory on soft ground over this course and distance. The assessor has left him on the same mark and, with Victor Santos again able to claim his 7lb, Julie Camacho's charge can go in again. Sioux Frontier has been racing in better company since completing a double. He's won on soft going so has to be a threat while Matewan acts on any ground and is surely better than we saw at Sandown, where he ran poorly despite being well supported. Corton Lad has managed to win 10 races though mostly on much quicker going and not for over two years.
Matewan (IRE) 4-1fav (9-4) Held up in mid-division, switched left and headway on outside 2f out, weakening when hampered inside final furlong, eased, 13th of 14, 10 1/4l behind My Boy Sepoy (9-7) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (5) gd in May.
Sioux Frontier (IRE) 3-1 (8-13) Steadied start, held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Roar (8-13) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp (4) sft in May.
Corton Lad 14-1 (8-12) Pressed leader, led over 3f out, soon headed, outpaced over 1f out, plugged on inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 4 1/4l behind Roar (8-13) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp (4) sft in May.
Bombero (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Prominent until halfway, close up, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 29 1/4l behind Amitie Waltz (9-6) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Breathable 25-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, outpaced over 3f out, headway over 1f out, never nearer, 10th of 13, 16 1/2l behind Makawee (9-2) at York 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in May.
Iconic Code 28-1 (8-3) Behind, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened final furlong, 9th of 15, 5 1/4l behind Ghalib (9-0) at Hamilton 1m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jun.
Majestic Stone (IRE) 6-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division, headway over 8f out, stayed inside 4f out, led over 3f out, gradually edged left, hard pressed inside final furlong, held on, won at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp (6) sft in May beating Onda District (8-7) by ns, 9 ran.