held up in rear, headway from 2f out, challenged inside final furlong, stayed on, just won on the bob post
soon led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, no clear run inside final furlong, never dangerous
chased leaders, led well over 2f out, soon headed, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, driven and struggling over 2f out
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, went 3rd towards finish
held up towards rear, headway on outside going well over 2f out, led over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, just lost out on the bob post
tracked leaders, lost place over 2f out, no impression after
mid-division, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
steadied start, behind, pushed along over 5f out, switched right over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never dangerous
led early, prominent, lost place 2f out
took keen hold, prominent, led over 3f out, headed well over 2f out, soon weakened
Useful hurdler Zubayr is lightly-raced on the Flat. He’s won and finished second on Polytrack under Megan Nicholls so has every chance here. Tapis Libre has already won valuable ladies’ races at York and Epsom this summer under Joanna Mason but is probably better on a faster surface. Dance King won the Cumberland Plate at Carlisle in June and is only 3lb higher while Serena Brotherton partners Alan King’s William Hunter, who won twice around this time last year and looked to be on the way back at Leicester. JACBEQUICK beat Azari over a similar trip at York last month and showed he was still in good form last time at Ripon. Though he’s creeping up the weights, another big run is anticipated.
Azari 4-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 6th of 7, 11 3/4l behind Mukhayyam (8-13) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Intense Tango 40-1 (8-9) Led until ridden and headed over 3f out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 12th of 14, dist behind Jaameh (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Gabrial's King (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 9, 5l behind Theydon Grey (9-3) at York 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Dance King 8-1 (9-6) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead last 50 yards, held on well, won at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jun beating Fleeting Visit (9-4) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Jacbequick 5-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, not much room 1f out, went 2nd and switched left inside final furlong, stayed on, unable to trouble winner, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Mulligatawny (10-3) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp (4) sft in Jul.
William Hunter 7-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Compton Mill (9-0) at Leicester 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jul.
Zubayr (IRE) 9-4 (8-10) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, 2nd after 2f, led narrowly over 4f out, headed well over 1f out, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Gibbs Hill (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Jul.
Tapis Libre 7-4jfav (10-7) Tracked leader, led over 6f out, headed over 2f out, ridden and rider dropped whip 1f out, rallied to regain lead inside final furlong, just held on, game, won at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jul beating Whinging Willie (10-9) by shd, 7 ran.
Swaheen 17-2 (9-3) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, kept on towards finish, 5th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Compton Mill (9-0) at Leicester 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jul.
Caponova (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Held up in rear, ridden and and struggling over 2f out, never involved, 6th of 8, 11 3/4l behind Silver Ghost (9-12) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Lord Franklin 12-1 (9-8) Tracked leader until over 6f out, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Beverley Bullet (8-9) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (4) sft in Jul.
Shamrokh (IRE) 50-1 (8-10) Towards rear, headway 2f out, plugged on final furlong, no threat, 6th of 14, 12 1/4l behind Royal Associate (9-1) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jul.