slowly into stride, held up in rear, shaken up over 1f out, stayed on steadily final furlong, never near leaders
led for 1f, tracked leader, challenged and upsides 2f out, soon driven and found nil, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, always in rear
sweating, led after 1f, pushed along over 2f out, hung left and headed inside final furlong, no impression, lost 2nd near finish
slowly away, held up in rear, headway under pressure on inside from 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not reach leaders
pulled hard, close up, pushed along and outpaced over 3f out, stayed on again final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along 4f out, chased leader over 1f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, edged left, kept on well
mid-division, weakened 4f out
held up in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, headway on outside over 1f out, chased leading pair final furlong, stayed on to go 2nd near finish
held up in rear, pushed along 4f out, ridden on outside over 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong but no danger
keen hold in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened quickly over 1f out
Secretary General is a speculative choice over the likes of Top Spec, South O'The Border and Magic Sting in the finale. In truth absolutely nothing stands out here, but Secretary General is still very well handicapped on his best form, having won off over a stone higher mark at Nottingham two years ago. He would have been in need of the run on his recent return to action at Kempton, but was still unlucky in running behind Obrigado, having been hampered two furlongs out. He may not have won, but would surely have finished closer than fifth and is taken to make amends. Like the selection, Top Spec is drawn high and has claims on last season's form, while South O'The Border is a course-and distance winner who should be fit enough. Magic Sting has form here as well but might want conditions softer, and so in a hard one to call, we shall stay loyal to Secretary General.
Yo Pedro (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Prominent, every chance over 2f out, soon driven and weakened, 12th of 18, 14l behind Focus Group (8-4) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Sept.
Lizarazu (GER) 50-1 (8-4) In touch, headway under pressure to chase leaders 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 15, 9l behind Pride of Nation (8-12) at Bath 1m hcap (4) gd in Apr.
South O'The Border 16-1 (8-8) Keen hold, tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 9th of 15, 5l behind Prince Samos (9-2) at Newbury 1m 2f hcap (4) gd in Apr.
Top Spec (IRE) 4-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, ridden over 2f out, headway on outside over 1f out, one pace, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Cordier (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
The Gaikwar (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Led and keen, ridden when headed 1f out and weakened, 6th of 11, 7l behind Latif (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Secretary General (IRE) 5-1 (8-7) Held up in 4th, headway and closing on leaders when badly hampered inside final 3f, not recover, 5th of 11, 10l behind Obrigado (8-13) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Apr.
Alekhine (IRE) 40-1 (8-11) Slowly away, headway over 7f out, soon with leader, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 12l behind Shaunas Vision (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcap (5) pol in Apr.
Magic Sting 10-1 (8-13) In rear, some headway and switched left over 1f out, never dangerous, 9th of 14, 11l behind Yakimov (8-6) at Warwick 1m 3f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Apr.
