raced wide, close up, ridden 2f out, soon outpaced
slowly into stride, soon recovered to track leaders, ran on inside final furlong to take 2nd stride, no chance with easy winner
held up in mid-division, badly hampered on inside over 2f out, not recover
led, driven and headed 2f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, hampered over 2f out, no chance after
held up in rear on outer, headway and kept on under pressure final furlong
tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, chased winner, no impression when lost two places near finish
raced in mid-division on outer, pushed along halfway, outpaced final 2f
held up towards rear, hampered and stumbled badly over 2f out, keeping on when not clear run over 1f out, not recover after
slowly into stride, in rear, driven halfway, no chance final 2f, virtually pulled up final furlong
steadied towards rear on outer, headway over 2f out, ran on under pressure to take 3rd last stride
slowly into stride,soon recovered, mid-division, headway to chase leaders 2f out, led 1f out, ridden clear final furlong
Royal Oath, Bee Stinger and Samuel Charles make most appeal and we shall side with Royal Oath. John Gosden's all weather runners are always noted and there is a chance that the son of Kingmambo is much better than his Haydock run suggests. There will be plenty of races to be won with him and it is surely a matter of whether he handles the surface or not. Bee Stinger will be bidding for a hat-trick bid on Saturday. Ian Wood's charge comprehensively accounted for Samuel Charles on their previous meeting here and while he has since shown that this victory was no fluke, the market will show whether there is further improvement or not. Desert Dreamer consented to put his best foot forward at Brighton but he is a horse with his own ideas about the game and cannot be relied upon to reproduce that run of form. Hitsonlyheaven won under enterprising tactics at Kempton Park although the handicapper has had a chance to reassess the merits of that form. Glencalvie represents a yard that are heading back to form and it would be no surprise to see him give another good account of himself. Mina A Salem can be anticipated to run from the front although this task looks more difficult than his two most recent victories over course-and-distance. A good race for the prize money and we shall stick with Royal Oath.
Hits Only Heaven (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Set steady pace for 2f, kicked on and made rest, ridden over 1f out, driven out final furlong, unchallenged, won at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jun beating Glencalvie (9-6) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Mina A Salem 13-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, edged left and one pace final furlong, 4th of 8, 3l behind Fiefdom (9-10) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.
Desert Dreamer (IRE) 15-2 (10-0) Held up rear, headway over 2f out, ran on well to lead inside final furlong, won at Brighton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) frm beating Curtain Bluff (9-6) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Purus (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Chased winner to over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Steel Blue (8-10) at Epsom 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Trifti 9-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, soon tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, soon one pace, 6th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Fajr (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcap (4) pol in May.
Samuel Charles 5-1 (8-12) Held up, ridden and headway when hung left from over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jun beating Calcutta (10-0) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Phluke 12-1 (9-5) Prominent, hard ridden to chase leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Epsom 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd beating Quantum Leap (9-0) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Glencalvie (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Chased winner 5f out, driven and stayed on from over 1f out, kept on, never quite able to challenge, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Hits Only Heaven (9-5) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jun.
Merrymadcap (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 13th of 14, 14l behind Aggravation (8-6) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Black Chief (SWE) Won at Taby 1m 2f stk std in Nov '04 beating Farad by a , 8 ran.
Bee Stinger 13-2 (8-11) Chased leader, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on under strong pressure, led final 25 yards, won at Windsor 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf beating Pintle (9-9) by a hd, 9 ran.
Royal Oath (USA) 9-4 (8-13) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridde to lead over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, ran on, won at Haydock 1m mdn stk (5) gf in Jun beating Dukedom (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
