slowly into stride, held up behind, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous
mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden, every chance inside final furlong, kept on
with leader, led after 2f, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong
slowly into stride, always behind
led 2f, tracked leader, lost place when edged left 2f out, soon ridden, weakened
mid-division, effort when not clear run 2f out, soon ridden, no impression final furlong
in touch, effort over 2f out, ridden, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway 2f out, ridden, stayed on inside final furlong to lead near finish
tracked leaders on inside, headway to lead over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on until headed, no extra near finish
Shekan Star can make the most of her light weight to outstay her rivals in the finale, with Bronze Dancer, Millennium Hall and Rare Coincidence seen as the ones to give her most to do. Shekan Star overcame a lengthy absence when scoring over 12 furlongs at Kempton in April, but has been found wanting since then, including when tried over a mile-and-a-quarter at Pontefract recently. The way that she stuck to her task when headed suggests that she will relish today's fist attempt over 13 furlongs, and with the ground to suit, she can pay to follow. Mllennium Hall won this last year for Peter Monteith, and in fact all four career wins have come round here. He would not want conditions any faster though and returns from a spell hurdling. Bronze Dancer has put in two good efforts at Catterick since returning from a winter break and will be expected to run well, while Rare Coincidence will be prominent for some time before fading no doubt. They are the main contenders, with Shekan Star the one that we fancy the most.
Millennium Hall 5-2jt-fav (8-10) Led, ridden over 2f out, soon headed and weakened, last of 5, 12l behind Top Style (7-9) at Hamilton 1m 5f hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Bronze Dancer (IRE) 5-1 (8-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 4l behind McEldowney (8-12) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in May.
Rare Coincidence 6-1 (8-1) Led, headed over 3f out, remained in touch until weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 6l behind McEldowney (9-8) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Reminiscent (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 7f out to chase leaders, ridden 4f out, soon beaten, 10th of 11, 22l behind Explosive Fox (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcap (6) pol in Apr.
Mr Maxim 20-1 (8-5) Chased winner early, outpaced 4f out, ridden and hung left and no impression from 2f out, 7th of 16, 11l behind Balwearie (9-2) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Sept.
Scurra 7-1 (8-7) In rear, ridden halfway, never dangerous, 8th of 11, 25l behind Trebello (9-0) at Southwell 2m banded stk (7) fbs in Mar.
Shekan Star 7-2jt-fav (9-0) In touch, driven to lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Epicurean (10-0) at Pontefract 1m 2f fll hcp (5) gs in May.
Zeydnaa (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Led early, chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 13, 13l behind Tycheros (8-10) at W'hampton 2m 1f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Nov.