held up last, steady headway on outside chasing leaders over 2f out, 3rd and one pace final 100 yards
tracked leader, led 2f out, stayed on strongly
slowly away, pulled hard and recovered chasing leaders 8f out, outpaced when hung right then carried right over 1f out, plugged on again closing stages
tracked leaders in 5th, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken when hung right over 1f out, no threat after, plugged on
held up tracking leaders on outside, closer 3f out, weakened inside final 2f
led, headed 2f out, weakened quickly
tracked leaders, went 2nd inside final 2f, no impression on winner, lost 2nd and weakened inside final furlong
held up in last pair, steady headway tracking leaders 3f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
Thundering Blue comes out best at the weights but a poor effort behind third-placed Extra Elusive and Fabricate at Sandown on his return doesn’t boost confidence. He’ll need a return to the form that saw him land a Group 2 at York last summer when Elarqam finished third. The latter is having his second start after wind surgery having finished in front of Vintager at Newmarket last month, though the Godolphin grey has subsequently run much better at the same track. WILLIE JOHN has had his problems since landing a couple of novice races though was far from disgraced on his reappearance at Doncaster behind Red Verdon, rated 110. Roger Varian’s colt still has plenty of scope and may yet prove up to this level.
Thundering Blue (USA) 14-1 (9-3) Held up in last trio, behind and hung right final 2f, never a factor, last of 7, 13l behind Crystal Ocean (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr.
Elarqam 9-2cfav (9-0) Raced on far rail, led 8f out until 6f out, chased leaders, outpaced 2f out, kept on again towards finish, 4th of 10, 5 3/4l behind Zabeel Prince (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr.
Extra Elusive 20-1 (9-0) Went to post early, raced keenly in last trio, headway on outside under pressure 2f out, went never dangerous 3rd near finish, 3rd of 7, 5 3/4l behind Crystal Ocean (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr.
Fabricate 16-1 (9-0) Led briefly, settled tracking leaders 8f out, headway over 2f out, soon pushed along in 3rd, never any chance with leading duo, lost never dangerous 3rd near finish, 4th of 7, 6l behind Crystal Ocean (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr.
Francis Xavier (IRE) 5-2fav (9-10) Mid-division on inside, headway over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final 150 yards, soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Busy Street (9-7) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Glendevon (USA) 8-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, pulled hard, ridden 3f out, lost place over 1f out, rallied inside final furlong, went 3rd post, 3rd of 11, 3 1/4l behind Oh This Is Us (9-5) at Lingfield 1m stks (2) pol in Apr.
Vintager 8-1 (9-10) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Elector (8-7) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp stks (2) gf in May.
Willie John 10-11fav (9-2) Keen tracked leader, shaken up over 1f out, ridden to lead briefly inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 4th of 6, 1 3/4l behind Red Verdon (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 4f stks (2) gd in Mar.
