slowly into stride, behind, effort under pressure on outside 3f out, no impression final 2f
always behind, lost touch final 4f
always behind, driven along 5f out, soon lost touch
made all, ridden and hung left final furlong, stayed on well
in touch, driven along from 5f out, kept on under pressure final 2f
uneasy in stalls, chased leaders until weakened 2f out
took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd over 3f out to just inside final furlong, weakened
chased winner to over 3f out, weakened under pressure 2f out
keen hold, in touch, outpaced and hung right bend 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong
slowly into stride, always behind
slowly into stride, behind, some headway final 2f, no danger
chased leaders, driven along halfway, weakened quickly 4f out
slowly into stride, always behind
ran in snatches in mid-division, headway under pressure over 3f out, chased leading pair 2f out, went 2nd just inside final furlong, not reach winner
The shortlist contains Majestic Monarch, Country Pursuit, Sri Lipis, English Victory and Flag Lieutenant, with the going to Majestic Monarch. It is hard to get away from the Godolphin entry, Majestic Monarch, who is beautifully-bred and cost $600,000. If the market vibe is solid enough, we will have to side with him. The form of Country Pursuit and Sri Lipis stands out from those to have raced; the former being rated 80, and he was a fair third to La Bella Grande in a Newbury handicap last time, and the latter being rated 84 following good efforts in maidens won by The Geezer and Belenus in his second-last and third-last starts. He has, however, been absent since April. English Victory made eyecatching late headway at Windsor last time and he steps up in trip now, so gets a big shout, while Flag Lieutenant has shown enough promise, including on today's surface, to be given a shout also. The other horses mentioned that have raced, have yet to race on this surface. Finally, bumper winner Shakerattleandroll is certainly bred to be effective on the Flat, while the Luca Cumani-trained Zeeba is an interesting newcomer. Overall, though, it is hard to get away from Majestic Monarch.
Shakerattleandroll (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Held up, headway over 4f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on, won at Worcester 2m mdn nhf (H) gf in Jun beating I'm Lovin It (11-4) by 1/2l, 12 ran (N.Hunt).
Country Pursuit (USA) 8-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders on outer, hung left and not quicken from 2f out, driven and stayed on under pressure final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind La Bella Grande (8-10) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) gs.
English Victory 33-1 (9-0) Towards rear, driven along over 3f out, headway centre over 1f out, stayed on to take 3rd last strides, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Mixing (9-0) at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gs.
Flag Lieutenant 6-1 (8-11) Held up in touch, headway and chased leader 5f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 10, 27l behind Topkat (9-8) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Gitche Manito (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden 2f out, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Fantorini (9-4) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) gd.
Majestic Monarch (USA) A P Indy colt, half-brother to a Grade 1 winner in the USA and several winners.
Sri Lipis 5-2jt-fav (8-6) Tracked winner, driven to challenge over 4f out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 26l behind First Row (8-7) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) sft in Apr.
Zeeba (IRE) Barathea filly, sister to winning stayer Lost Soldier Three, half-sister to several winners including miler Invader.
