tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and headed inside final 2f, lost place when short of room inside final furlong, weakened final 100 yards
raced keenly, led 2f, tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place, weakened final furlong
towards rear of mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to chase leaders inside final furlong, no extra final 50 yards
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders when not clear run over 1f out, switched inside and ridden inside final furlong, stayed on well final 100 yards, not reach front pair
tracked leaders, headway over 2f out, led inside final 2f, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace
slowly into stride, held up behind, outpaced over 2f out, never a threat
towards rear, driven over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, nearest finish
tracked leaders, effort 2f out, soon ridden, lost place inside final furlong, weakened final 100 yards
mid-division, driven over 2f out, headway under pressure on outside over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, not quite reach winner
with leader, led after 2f out, driven and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, driven to chase leaders when not clear run over 2f out, switched inside over 1f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, ran on
Judged on his second in last month’s Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar, NICHOLAS T (NAP) is coming to hand at the right time to win this race for the second year running. He’s only a couple of pounds higher than 12 months ago and is best on a left-handed track. Whatsthemessage won five times last year but is still paying the price while Third Time Lucky and Mythical Madness are difficult to win with nowadays. Masham Star hasn’t won on Turf since his two-year-old days but Balestra is on a hat-trick after dead-heating at Haydock. Mutarakez and Jay Kay would need a career-best to win a race at this level while First Flight only won a claimer at Wolverhampton and Kings Gift needs some help from the handicapper.
Kings Gift (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, mid-division, driven over 2f out, outpaced and no impression over 1f out, 6th of 11, 9l behind Thundering Blue (9-0) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in May.
Hayadh 13-2 (9-2) Led until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 11 1/2l behind Gilgamesh (9-2) at York 7f hcp (2) gd in May.
Mythical Madness 25-1 (9-1) Held up behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, not pace to threaten leaders, 6th of 15, 8 1/4l behind Seniority (8-11) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (2) pol in Jun.
Third Time Lucky (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Keen, held up, pushed along over 2f out, not trouble leaders, 7th of 10, 8 3/4l behind Afaak (9-1) at York 1m hcp (2) gf in May.
Masham Star (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, no impression when edged right over 1f out, never a threat, 10th of 15, 12 1/2l behind Seniority (8-11) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (2) pol in Jun.
Nicholas T 25-1 (8-11) Held up in rear, switched right and headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never reached winner, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Big Country (10-0) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in May.
Whatsthemessage (IRE) 40-1 (9-1) Raced wide tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 8l behind Pepita (9-1) at Musselburgh 7f lst fll stks (1) gd in Jun.
Mutarakez (IRE) 7-2jfav (9-7) In touch, short of room over 3f out, headway over 2f out, chasing leaders when wandered under pressure over 1f out, never a threat, 3rd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Zabeel Star (8-13) at Hamilton 1m hcp (4) gf in May.
Balestra 4-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, effort between horses entering final furlong, soon joined winner, ran on to share spoils, won at Haydock 7f hcp (4) gf in Jun beating Saluti (9-7), 7 ran.
Jay Kay 33-1 (9-7) Led, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 4 1/4l behind Secret Return (8-10) at Leicester 1m hcp (4) gs in May.
First Flight (IRE) 5-6fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, not much room briefly over 2f out, led over 1f out, drew clear, easily, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (6) pol in Jun beating Monsieur Jimmy (8-10) by 7l, 4 ran.
