led, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, led over 2f out, ridden entering final furlong, stayed on under pressure
held up, headway over 3f out, soon ridden, no impression 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden well over 2f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, ridden 3f out, kept on over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up mid-division, chased leaders over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3f out, one pace
slowly into stride, behind, weakened over 4f out
in touch, headway over 3f out, chased winner over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, always held
held up in touch, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
held up, pushed along, weakened 4f out
held up mid-division, chased leaders over 3f out, outpaced well over 1f out
slowly into stride, pushed along and outpaced in rear, never dangerous
held up mid-division, weakened over 3f out
Troopingthecolour, Outrageous Request and Mathaaq make the shortlist in an intriguing finale, with TROOPINGTHECOLOUR the selection. Mathaaq hails from the bang in form Michael Jarvis camp-the stable had a 50% strike rate recently-and any market move for him should be heeded. A son of Champion Stakes winner Nayef, out of a Nureyev mare, he could be anything, though his belated debut may disquiet. He is related to several prolific winners and is a fascinating entry. By Rainbow Quest out of a Cadeaux Genereux mare, Outrageous Request ran his best race to date when just touched off in a similar event at Windsor recently. This may be a tougher assignment however and he is taken on. Another son of Nayef, Troopingthecolour made up a lot of ground in the closing stages on his Sandown debut, only denied by a neck. With that experience under his belt, Troopingthecolour looks sure to appreciate the more testing conditions here, and he can get off the mark at the second attempt.
Galley Slave (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, soon beaten, 3rd of 4, 15l behind Lady Longcroft (8-12) at Southwell 1m 4f mdn auc stks (6) fbs in Feb.
Country Road (IRE) Montjeu colt out of Souffle.
Do The Strand (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, improved to mid-division 5f out, ridden 3f out, headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Blizzard Blues (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (3) gd in Jul.
King's Song (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) In touch, effort under pressure over 2f out, no progress and one pace from over 1f out, 8th of 18, 6l behind Monitor Closely (9-3) at Newbury 1m 2yo mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Mathaaq Nayef colt out of Mouwadh.
Mustakmil (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 3f out, kept on from over 1f out, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Eastern Warrior (9-3) at Ripon 1m mdn stks (5) gd in Jul.
Outrageous Request 14-1 (9-3) In touch, keen, ridden, every chance inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 14, nk behind Namibian Orator (9-3) at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Apr.
Primera Vista 25-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure, never able to challenge, 6th of 16, 12l behind Splendorinthegrass (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 3yo mdn (4) gd in Jul.
Princeofthedesert Nayef colt out of Twilight Sonnet.
Troopingthecolour 12-1 (9-3) Started slowly, towards rear, headway over 2f out, strong run inside final furlong, took 2nd final strides, not quite reached winner, 2nd of 15, nk behind Brooklyn Spirit (9-3) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Jun.
Zelos Diktator 18-1 (8-2) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders, 6th of 9, 10l behind Cheam Forever (9-0) at Pontefract 1m 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Jul.
Acquavella 11-4fav (8-11) Keen, in touch, pushed along 4f out, ridden 3f out, driven entering final 2f, kept on final furlong, never dangerous, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Urban Poet (9-2) at Hamilton 1m 3f mdn stks (5) gf in Jul.
Anessia 16-1 (9-0) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 5th of 7, 15l behind Phillipina (8-9) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo mdn fll stks (5) hvy in Jul.
Deportment Barathea filly out of Tina Heights.
Katya Kabanova Sadler's Wells filly out of Kiftsgate Rose.
Rapid Desire (IRE) 66-1 (8-7) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Matraash (8-12) at Newcastle 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gd in Jun.