held up in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened inside final furlong
in touch, hampered over 1f out, ran on final furlong, never on terms
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, driven to challenge and hung left over 1f out, no extra final furlong
led, headed over 1f out, soon faded
prominent, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, not much room over 1f out, soon switched right to challenge, shaken up and ran on well
held up in rear, switched right over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, ran on well inside final furlong, not reached winner
tracked leaders, led over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on well
slowly into stride, mid-division, pushed along over 1f out, never on terms
held up in touch, not much room over 1f out, soon switched left to challenge, kept on well
behind, ridden halfway, never dangerous
Meydan Princess, Ancien Regime and Slugger O'Toole are the three for the shortlist in the finale and the vote is given to Slugger O'Toole. The selection beat a fancied sort in Skadrak at Wolverhampton last time, and prior to that he had been fourth in a useful looking Newmarket maiden. He is clearly going the right way and he can make it back-to-back wins. Meydan Princess is the obvious danger as she caught the eye when she came from a long way down the field to beat Wigram's Turn at Kempton last time. If she can build on that effort she should go close. Ancien Regime showed plenty of promise last season and he should be suited by this step-up in trip so he is another with claims. Spitfire ran well on his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster last month and he should be suited by the return to this quicker ground. This is a tricky race to call and the vote is given to Slugger O'Toole.
Spitfire 7-2 (9-1) Held up in touch, headway 2f out, ridden entering final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Tasdeer (8-12) at Doncaster 7f 3yo stk (2) sft in Apr.
Dubai Dynamo 14-1 (8-12) Overall leader in centre, switched to stand's side group after 3f, hung left and headed over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Beacon Lodge (8-12) at Newbury 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Ancien Regime (IRE) 6-4fav (9-5) Pulled hard, held up, switched left over 1f out, chased winner, edged left under pressure inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Mesmerize Me (8-13) at Windsor 5f 2yo hcp 0-95 (4) gd in Oct.
Bellomi (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Keen, tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 8, 8l behind River Proud (8-12) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Oct.
Billion Dollar Kid 3-1fav (9-2) Pressed leader, led just over 2f out, stayed on gamely under pressure, driven out, won at Sandown 7f nov stk (3) gf in Sept beating Hobby (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Insaaf 2-1fav (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden halfway, weakened approaching final furlong, 9th of 12, 7l behind Spinning Lucy (8-12) at Newmarket 6f 2yo lst fll (1) gd in Nov.
Meydan Princess (IRE) 5-1 (8-12) Held up, rapid progress to lead inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Kempton 7f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Apr beating Wigram's Turn (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Slugger O'Toole 9-4 (9-3) Broke well, tracked leaders, effort and switched left over 1f out, led soon after, ridden out, won at W'hampton 7f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Apr beating Skadrak (9-3) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Throne of Power (USA) 3-1 (9-3) Dwelt, soon tracked leaders, chased leader 4f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear, won at Lingfield 1m 3yo mdn (5) pol in Feb beating Boy On A Swing (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Swift Gift 6-5fav (9-1) Held up, headway on outside over 2f out, shaken up to lead well over 1f out, ridden clear inside final furlong, ran on well, won at W'hampton 7f 2yo mdn auc (6) pol in Nov beating Spiritofthetiger (8-6) by 4l, 8 ran.
Just A Dancer (IRE) 7-4 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Carleton (9-5) at Bath 5f nov stk (4) gs in Jun.
