tracked leader, led over 2f out, driven and strongly pressed over 1f out, kept on well
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
last to break, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, unable to quicken well inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, edged right and every chance over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
keen early, prominent, ridden over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
in touch, improved over 2f out, not much room over 1f out, stayed on same pace, no threat to leaders
KAPTAIN KIRKUP can bounce back and rain on Welsh Emperor's parade and he may have most to fear from Harrison George and Sirocco Breeze. There may not be a dry eye in the house if the popular Welsh Emperor can win this race for the third year running but the eleven year old's powers appear to be on the wain and he may have to cede the advantage to his younger rivals. The conditions have certainly come right so someone's looking favourably on him but Kaptain Kirkup handled ease in the ground with aplomb as a juvenile and proved that he had trained on with an impressive success at York. He's been held in two runs in Pattern company since then but is fancied to get back on track at a course where he's already been successful. The penalty may do for Harrison George but Sirocco Breeze is unpenalised and has leading claims if able to reproduce his best with give underfoot. Za Za Zoom is no back number and the enigmatic pair of Asset and Aeroplane certainly have the ability to land the spoils but that honour can go the way of Kaptain Kirkup.
Harrison George (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Keen, tracked leader until 4f out, soon ridden, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 7l behind Bushman (9-4) at Epsom Downs 1m Grp 3 (1) gd in Jun.
Welsh Emperor (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Pushed along to lead, pushed along over 3f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 6l behind Lovelace (9-7) at Haydock 7f Listed stks (1) gf in May.
Asset (IRE) 7-2 (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up in last, ridden over 1f out, no real progress, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 7l behind The Rectifier (8-8) at Windsor 1m Listed stks (1) gf in Jun.
Sirocco Breeze 4-1 (9-4) Held up behind, headway and effort on outside 2f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong until no extra towards finish, 6th of 9, 2l behind Sir Gerry (9-4) at Salisbury 6f Listed stks (1) gf in Jun.
Suruor (IRE) 9-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, headway on outside 2f out, hard ridden over 1f out, ran on under pressure, never reached leaders, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Autumn Blades (9-6) at Chester 1m hcp 0-105 (2) gs in May.
Kaptain Kirkup (IRE) 28-1 (9-1) Always in rear, ridden and struggling over 2f out, 10th of 13, 14l behind Rainfall (8-12) at Royal Ascot 7f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.
Za Za Zoom (IRE) 14-1 (8-10) Always behind, pushed along and no progress 3f out, 15th of 17, 15l behind Timepiece (9-5) at Royal Ascot 1m Fillies Listed Handicap (0-110) (3yo) (1) gf in Jun.
Aeroplane 3-1 (9-1) Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, last of 5, 4l behind Elna Bright (9-5) at Kempton 6f cnd stks (4yo+) (2) pol in Jan.
