held up towards rear, headway on wide outside under pressure 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, no impression final furlong and lost places close home
mid-division, pushed along on inside and outpaced over 2f out, ridden and beaten over 1f out
raced wide, took keen hold and soon chasing leaders, losing pace when pushed right entering final 2f, weakened soon after
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on until headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards
led for 2f, chased leader until ridden over 2f out, stayed chasing leaders, weakened over 1f out
took keen hold tracking leaders, not clear run and switched left well over 1f out, not much room until gap opened approaching final furlong, 2nd inside final furlong, shaken up and stayed on to lead final 100 yards, snugly
in touch on inside, pushed along over 2f out, soon hung right and weakened
steadied start, held up in mid-division, shuffled back and towards rear halfway, pushed along over 3f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to get involved
took keen hold and prominent, led after 2f, made most after until ridden and headed over 1f out, chased leader until approaching final furlong, weakened inside final furlong,
towards rear, pushed along 5f out, weakened soon after
tracked leaders, switched left and headway over 2f out, every chance 2f out, went 2nd approaching final furlong until inside final furlong, lost 3rd final 100 yards, no extra in 5th close home
steadied start, held up in mid-division on outside, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd final 100 yards, never going pace of leading duo
took keen hold and held up towards rear, headway on wide outside over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 4th close home, not pace to threaten
pulled hard tracking leaders until lost place and dropped towards rear after 2f, no chance after
slowly into stride, always in rear
held up and behind, never a factor
behind, driven along over 2f out, headway and switched right approaching final furlong, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders
held up towards rear, headcway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong and finished well, nearest finish
Mark Johnston often targets this race and has won it four times since the turn of the century. He has a quartet in the line-up this year and FIRE FIGHTING, who is likely to be prominent from the outset, can come good for the Middleham supremo again as he is fancied to reverse last month's Haydock running with Wrangler and Black Schnapps on better terms. Stablemate Alex My Boy might also have been interesting had he been better drawn while a wide berth has also made things difficult for the likes of Windshear and Captain Morley. Elite Army was behind Windshear at Sandown in April but then beat Gold Trail at the Esher track. Godolphin are also represented by Personal Opinion and he's weighted to reverse Newbury running with Arab Dawn, who has gone up 10lb since completing his hat-trick at Kempton. Art Of War only won by a short-head at Ripon last time but gives every indication this longer trip will suit and he could be well handicapped. Carlo Bugatti tackles his first handicap but will have to be smart to defy top weight.
Carlo Bugatti (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Raced wide tracking leading pair, pushed wide on bend 2f out, soon weakened, behind and eased final furlong, last of 8, well behind Orchestra (9-0) at Chester 1m 4f 3yo Grp 3 (1) sft in May.
Truth Or Dare 8-1 (9-3) Prominent, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on strongly well inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Pinzolo (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo lst stk (1) gf in May.
Stars Over The Sea (USA) 10-1 (9-7) Awkward and started slowly, in rear, pushed along halfway, ridden on outside well over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to threaten, 6th of 11, 4 1/2l behind What About Carlo (9-2) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd.
Windshear 11-4fav (9-6) Held up towards rear, switched outside and headway 3f out, ridden and effort over 1f out, stayed on to chase winner final 110 yards, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Cannock Chase (9-4) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in May.
Black Schnapps (IRE) 15-2 (9-6) Held up in rear in touch, tracked leaders 3f out, ridden and one pace over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong to take 3rd towards finish, not reach front pair, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Wrangler (9-1) at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) sft in May.
Elite Army 9-4fav (9-5) Raced keenly, close up, not clear run from 3f out, waited until headway between horses entering final furlong, led inside final furlong, pushed out, readily, won at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gs in May beating Gold Trail (9-7) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Bremner 25-1 (9-7) Held up, took keen hold, some headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, never on terms, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 9l behind Top Tug (8-10) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gs in May.
Personal Opinion 4-1 (9-7) Tracked leader 1f, held up in touch in mid-division, lost place over 4f out, switched right over 3f out, headway over 1f out, edged left and ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd last strides, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Arab Dawn (8-11) at Newbury 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
Gold Trail (IRE) 11-4 (9-3) Tracked leader, driven to challenge over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Roseburg (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo stk 0-90 (3) sft.
Swivel 20-1 (9-4) Never better than mid-division, weakened 3f out, 11th of 13, 17l behind Hesketh Bank (8-7) at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Arab Dawn 9-4fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, led on bit 2f out, ran on well, snugly, won at Kempton 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in May beating Good Value (9-5) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Captain Morley 11-4 (9-5) In touch, headway to lead over 3f out, hard ridden over 2f out, kept on well under pressure, won at Chester 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gs in May beating Old Town Boy (9-7) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Venezia (IRE) 11-8fav (9-2) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 13, nk behind Tabreek (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) gd in May.
Fire Fighting (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Led, quickened over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 5, 20l behind Roseburg (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo stk 0-90 (3) sft.
Art Of War (IRE) 5-4fav (9-5) Took keen hold, held up in last trio but in touch, headway on outside over 3f out, went 3rd 3f out, went 2nd approaching final furlong, challenged and edged right inside final furlong, led close home, just held on, won at Ripon 1m 1f 3yo mdn (5) gd in May beating Almashooqa (9-0) by shd, 8 ran.
Zee Zeely 8-1 (8-5) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, driven out, won at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in May beating Miner's Lamp (9-7) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Alex My Boy (IRE) 7-2fav (9-4) In rear, ran wide winning post bend, ridden 3f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 7th of 13, 8l behind Hesketh Bank (8-7) at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Trip To Paris (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Keen towards rear, ran wide winning post bend, never on terms, 10th of 13, 11l behind Hesketh Bank (8-7) at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Wrangler 11-10fav (9-1) Tracked leading pair, headway over 2f out, soon challenged, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to lead when edged left well inside final furlong, held on, won at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) sft in May beating Montaly (8-9) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
