held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on final furlong
held up in touch, driven to challenge over 1f out, soon every chance, no extra closing stages
led until over 2f out, weakened quickly
tracked leader, led well over 2f out, headed 2f out, weakened
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, never nearer
missed break, held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up in touch, every chance over 2f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong
held up, switched left and effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, always behind
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, never nearer
held up in touch, led 2f out, edged left inside final furlong, ran on well
held up, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, never trouble leaders
One of the most eagerly anticipated two-year-old races of the season can go to the French raider Whipper, who is narrowly preferred to Coventry Stakes winner Three Valleys - although Old Deuteronomy and Auditorium are also progressing nicely and will not go down with out a fight. The same sentiments apply to Kheleyf, whose Doncaster win received a boost when Millbag impressed in a conditions event at Salisbury earlier in the week. However, Whipper has always been held in high regard by his trainer and has really started to fulfil his potential with two solid performances in his homeland recently - the latest of which has a rock solid shape to it and is as good as any on offer today. The Robert Collet-trained colt had Old Deuteronomy just over seven lengths adrift of him on that occasion and there is every reason to expect that was not just a one off performance. The selection's chances will increase significantly if the predicted rains arrive and Whipper, as a natural sprinter, can see off Three Valleys, who remains a very useful prospect for next season when he is upped in trip, despite having excuses for his last run at The Curragh.
