soon led, pushed along and headed over 1f out, kept on final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden for effort over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
missed break, held up in rear, ridden along 2f out, made good headway in the closing stages without ever threatening
raced in mid-division, went wrong and pulled up over 3f out
held up towards rear until badly hampered and forced right over 3f out, never recovered
raced handy, pushed up to challenge 2f out, soon lost her place and weakened final furlong
slowly away, held up in rear, ridden along over 2f out, made little impression
prominent, ridden along over 2f out, soon faded
mid-division, nudged along to challenge over 2f out, led just over 1f out, headed 1f out, kept on without matching winner
chased leaders, ridden along and lead 1f out, ran on well
Sovereign Grant has been very lightly raced but is in danger of becoming disappointing after another odds-on defeat at Chelmsford. At the likely odds, The Queen’s colt is probably worth taking on here. The Met is even less exposed and was 2-2 at Wolverhampton last year. Data Protection won the Cambridgeshire consolation at Newmarket in the autumn and was a good third at Lingfield on his reappearance but Ulshaw Bridge usually flatters to deceive and will probably need this. JALAAD may still be a couple of pounds too high but he got no cover on his return to action at Newmarket and will strip fitter today so gets a tentative vote.
The Met 7-2 (9-7) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and stayed on when strongly pressed inside final furlong, held on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Dec beating Godhead (9-9) by nk, 5 ran.
Jalaad (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Raced wide in touch, pushed along and headway 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 11 3/4l behind Montatham (9-6) at Newmarket 1m hcp (3) gf in Jun.
Ulshaw Bridge (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up in last pair, never on terms, 7th of 8, 8 1/2l behind Ibraz (9-5) at Ripon 1m hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Sovereign Grant 4-6fav (9-6) A little slow into stride, chased leaders on inside, switched right off last bend, shaken up when not much room 1f out, well held inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Godhead (9-7) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (3) pol in Jun.
Starlight Romance (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Held up in 5th on inside, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Delilah Park (9-7) at Kempton 7f hcp fll (3) pol in Jun.
Data Protection 11-1 (9-4) Went to post early, raced keenly tracked leader until over 1f out, went 2nd close home, no chance with very easy winner, lost that placing post, 3rd of 9, 7 1/4l behind Plantadream (9-3) at Lingfield 1m hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Mickey (IRE) 15-2 (9-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along on outside 3f out, well beaten final 2f, 9th of 10, 17 1/4l behind Hayadh (9-6) at Beverley 1m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Calder Prince (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 8 3/4l behind Daarik (9-5) at Newcastle 7f hcp (2) pol in Jun.
Storm Ahead (IRE) 18-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway when not much room over 1f out, never able to challenge, stayed on same pace final 75 yards, 6th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Frankelio (8-10) at Pontefract 1m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Global Spirit 14-1 (9-4) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 5 1/4l behind Little Jo (9-4) at Newcastle 1m hcp (4) pol in Jun.