not much room soon after start, held up in 4th, closed over 3f out, led well over 1f out, quickened clear final furlong, pushed out
soon led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, soon edged left, one pace final furlong
prominent, pushed along over 4f out, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leader, pushed along 4f out, still challenging over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, pushed along 5f out, ridden 4f out, hung left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
held up, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd well inside final furlong, no chance with winner
Nonrunner
Sweet Lightning is preferred here to the likes of Criterion and Top Ticket. The selection was not disgraced in a competitive handicap at Leicester last time when he finished fourth behind Donna Alba. He has a good draw today and this step-up in trip should play to his strengths and he looks the one they all have to beat. Criterion looks progressive enough and he will not be inconvenienced by the drop in trip after a solid effort behind Amerigo at Sandown last time. Top Ticket is a smart type but he has yet to tackle this trip and he has so far shown his best form with a bit of juice in the ground. Mark Johnston won this race last year but his representative today London Times looks to have a little to find with the principles and he is passed over. A trappy affair which can go the way of Sweet Lightning.
Sweet Lightning 14-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, ridden 3f out, hung left and stayed inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 3l behind Dona Alba (9-5) at Leicester 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) gd.
Criterion 7-2jt-fav (9-2) Prominent, headway to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Amerigo (9-9) at Sandown 1m 6f 3yo hcp (4) gf in May.
Top Ticket (IRE) 15-2 (9-4) Chased leaders, led 3f out, soon driven, strongly pressed from over 1f out, headed close home, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Celtic Dragon (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 3f 3yo hcp (4) gf in May.
London Times (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Led, ridden over 4f out, headed over 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 14, 8l behind Meethaaq (9-3) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo mdn (5) gd.
Relative Strength (IRE) 15-8 (9-3) Tracked leader, hampered by leader over 2f out and snatched up, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, 4th of 5, 5l behind Unleashed (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) pol.
Kiribati King (IRE) 5-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, headway on outside to track leaders over 10f out, led over 9f out, ridden 3f out, headed 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Si Belle (9-7) at Yarmouth 1m 6f 3yo hcp (5) gf.
Ruff Diamond (USA) 40-1 (9-7) Held up, mid-division until weakened 2f out, 9th of 13, 8l behind Resplendent Light (9-1) at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
