steadied start, in rear, steady headway over 2f out, stayed on well to take 3rd inside final furlong, not trouble 1st 2
soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, gradually weakened
close up, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
prominent, steady headway to lead over 2f out, hard pressed and narrowly headed inside final furlong, rallied close home, just held
in touch, effort 3f out, weakened 2f out
always behind, eased over 1f out
towards rear, steady headway over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, nearest finish
towards rear, headway wide final 2f, kept on nearest finish
behind, some headway 3f out, soon ridden and weakened 2f out
in touch, headway to chase leader over 2f out, challenged approaching final furlong, led narrowly inside final furlong, just held on
held up mid-division, under pressure over 3f out, no progress
chased leaders to halfway, stayed on one pace final 2f
held up mid-divison, headway 4f out, ridden and weakened 2f out, ridden and soon beaten
held up towards rear, headway 3f out to chase leaders, ridden and kept on same pace final 2f
behind, headway 2f out, kept on, not pace to trouble leaders
in rear, good headway over 3f out, went 3rd over 1f out, ridden and lost 3rd inside final furlong
A cracking looking renewal of the John Porter with 17 runners set to face the starter including Mick Channon's Group1 winner Imperial Dancer and Sir Michael Stoute's duo Distinction and Gamut but the vote goes to Bandari. Mark Johnston has his string in fine fettle at present and this five-year-old will not fail for lack of peak fitness. Admirably consistent last term despite failing to trouble the judge in four starts, the son of Alhaarth deserves to take a race of this nature and, given the form of his stable, he looks worth a bet. Imperial Dancer is likely to struggle under his penalty so a bigger threat to the selection may come from one of Sir Michael Stoute's two runners. Judged by jockey bookings, Gamut looks the pick of his pair and, provided he is fit enough, the Irish St Leger runner-up should be thereabouts. Among the four-year-olds, Chester Vase winner Dutch Gold, Henry Cecil's unexposed Sayadaw and Dubai Success from the in-form Barry Hills stable all warrant respect but it is the consistent Bandari who is taken to gain an overdue success in this company.
