led, ridden over 1f out, headed final furlong, no extra last 150 yards
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
mid-division, pushed along over 2f out to chase leaders, weakened over 1f out
prominent, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
soon chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on to chase winner towards finish, no impression
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened last 100 yards
in rear, ridden and switched right over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
close up, ridden over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
towards rear, headway over 1f out, led final furlong, soon clear, ran on strongly
towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong
Mobsta won this last year and later took a Group 2 at the Curragh, though finished behind Tupi in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket in between. The latter is fit from a campaign in Dubai but is an infrequent winner. Birchwood won twice over this trip as a juvenile and was successful over 7f at Chester the last time he raced in this grade so goes on the short-list. Nameitwhatyoulike is a tough sprinter but, along with Swift Approval, has a small penalty and was behind ABSOLUTELY SO (NAP) on better terms in the Ayr Gold Cup in September. Andrew Balding’s gelding, twice a winner at this level, went close on his reappearance in a Grade 3 last season and didn’t do much wrong thereafter so a big run is anticipated.
Nameitwhatyoulike 11-2 (9-9) Soon led, headed over 1f out, soon slightly impeded and one pace, 6th of 14, 1 3/4l behind Shanghai Glory (9-5) at Curragh 6f lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Oct.
Swift Approval (IRE) 40-1 (9-6) Dwelt keen in touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 11 1/4l behind Salateen (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f lst stks (1) pol in Mar.
Absolutely So (IRE) 5-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 2f out, driven and kept on inside final furlong, never on terms, 5th of 7, 5 3/4l behind Growl (9-3) at Doncaster 6f lst stks (1) gf in Nov.
Birchwood (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) 6th of 12, 8 1/4l behind Limato (9-2) at Chantilly 7f Grp 1 gd in Oct.
Captain Colby (USA) 9-1 (9-3) Dwelt, always in rear, 11th of 12, 8 1/2l behind Lord Of The Land (9-3) at Lingfield 6f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Mobsta (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Held up, outpaced after 2f, 6th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Gracious John (9-3) at Nottingham 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Pipers Note 7-1 (9-7) Raced centre, prominent, ridden halfway, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 12 1/4l behind Ocean Sheridan (8-9) at Catterick 5f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Rene Mathis (GER) 28-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Salateen (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f lst stks (1) pol in Mar.
Ride Like The Wind (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders over 1f out kept on same pace, no impression when lost place well inside final furlong, last of 8, 3 1/4l behind Royal Birth (9-0) at Lingfield 5f lst stks (1) pol in Feb.
Scrutineer (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) 12th of 14, 9 1/2l behind Krypton Factor (9-1) at Meydan 6f hcp gd in Feb.
Tupi (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) 4th of 16, 6l behind Jungle Cat (9-0) at Meydan 6f stks gd in Mar.
Blue Bayou 33-1 (9-7) Raced centre, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 20th of 21, 27 1/2l behind Persuasive (8-9) at Ascot 1m hcp lst fll (1) sft in Jun.
Buying Trouble (USA) 25-1 (8-9) Behind, outpaced over 2f out, ridden and ketpt on under pressure final 100 yards, not pace to trouble leaders, 7th of 8, 2 3/4l behind Royal Birth (9-0) at Lingfield 5f lst stks (1) pol in Feb.
