held up, ridden when not clear run over 2f out, headway over 1f out, running on when not clear run well inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
always towards rear
keen, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, not quicken inside final furlong
in touch, went 2nd over 3f out, ridden 2f out, ran on, lost 2nd last strides
towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace inside final furlong
mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, ran on to take 2nd last strides
always behind
pulled hard, soon behind
mid-division, pushed along 5f out, outpaced over 2f out, no danger after
prominent until weakened quickly over 3f out
Not a strong race, and in it the vote goes to Prime Contender ahead of Gallantian, Courageously and Blue Bajan. Barry Hills does well here and Prime Contender has shown enough promise to suggest he can fare well off his current mark at the longest trip he has tried. Many of the others are a mixture of seemingly modest and/or hard to assess types, but Gallantian at least proven himself capable of winning, albeit on the all-weather last time, so can be afforded some respect. Courageously keeps getting penalised for his consistency but has a wide draw to contend with, otherwise he would be more-fancied. Blue Bajan was an eyecatcher when tried in first-time blinkers last time and might fare better still today, but he too isn't favoured by the draw. All in all, it's tricky but modest, but we will side with Prime Contender.
Torrens (IRE) 25-1 (8-4) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, soon beaten, 14th of 16, 22l behind Tanforan (8-3) at Thirsk 1m hcp (5) gd in May.
Prime Contender 12-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, driven along 3f out, weakened 2f out, 5th of 8, 6l behind Fortunate Isle (9-0) at Newbury 1m 3yo mdn (5) frm in May.
Comeintothespace (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Mid-division throughout, 8th of 16, 7l behind Wind Chime (9-4) at Bath 1m hcp (5) gf.
Shamrock Bay 20-1 (8-11) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 19, 8l behind Corcoran (8-11) at Leicester 7f 2yo mdn fll (D2) gd in Oct.
Gallantian (IRE) 2-1fav (9-0) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, headway to lead well over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, won at W'hampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn aut (H5) pol in Nov beating Wembury Point (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Barbirolli 66-1 (8-9) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 13, 14l behind Ebtikaar (8-9) at Haydock 1m 4f mdn stk (5) gf in May.
Courageously 6-1fav (8-9) In touch, headway 3f out, short of room 1f out, soon one pace, 3rd of 20, 4l behind Mossmann Gorge (9-2) at Chepstow 1m 3yo hcp (5) gf in May.
Blue Bajan (IRE) 13-2 (8-11) Held up and behind, headway and not clear run over 2f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 17, 8l behind Master Joseph (8-6) at Newcastle 1m 3yo hcp (5) gd in May.
Danzatrice 50-1 (8-11) Behind until kept on final 2f, never near to challenge, 8th of 17, 13l behind Master Joseph (8-6) at Newcastle 1m 3yo hcp (5) gd in May.
Askwith (IRE) 5-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 28l behind Killena Boy (8-13) at Beverley 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) sft in Apr.
Sydneyroughdiamond 20-1 (8-11) With leaders, weakened 2f out, last of 7, 11l behind Ashes (8-11) at Ayr 5f 3yo hcp (5) sft in May.
Strathtay 9-1 (8-3) Never better than mid-division, 7th of 11, 11l behind Kelly Nicole (9-10) at Beverley 1m 3yo hcp (5) gf.
