mid-division, driven halfway, soon beaten
mid-division, chased along halfway, effort over 2f, no impression
mid-division, driven over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest at finish
mid-division, chased along halfway, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace
led, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
towards rear, never a factor
mid-division, pushed along and headway 3f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on final furlong, not reached winner
towards rear, never dangerous
prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden 2f out, ran on to lead over 1f out, kept on gamely final furlong
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon behind
mid-division when not much room after 1f, pulled up 4f out
chased leaders to halfway
held up behind leaders, effort 3f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
never better than mid-division
towards rear, some late headway, never near to challenge
always in rear division
dwelt and towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, chased along halfway, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, driven along 3f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, stayed on same pace
never better than mid-division
towards rear, never dangerous
held up, headway when edged left over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, driven halfway, some late headway but never near to challenge
Long time ante post fancy King's Majesty has only just got into the season's first big handicap and Sir Michael Stoute's lightly raced colt has to be hugely respected but he is far from certain to be at his best under the prevailing conditions and preference is for Cesare, who gets the vote ahead of Common World. Success for the last mentioned would be a fairytale return to the saddle for jockey Fran Berry after a long injury battle and his mount will relish the underfoot conditions but the son of Common Grounds seems to be plenty high enough in the weights. The Mark Tompkins-trained Babodana won this event 24 months ago and despite running some decent races since then is now 1lb lower in the weights so he has to be considered. Kevin Ryan saddles no fewer than four runners with Kamanda Laugh just about looking to be the pick of them ahead of My Paris and Josh. Mick Channon's Capable Guest suggested that there was plenty more to come when making a winning return on the all-weather at Lingfield last month and has claims provided that the ground does not become too testing, while Mick Easterby's Gentleman's Deal has come back well following an injury and could be of interest back on turf. The vote though goes to James Fanshawe's Cesare who showed progressive form from limited outings last term, including under testing conditions, and still looks open to further improvement.
Chrysander 8-11fav (8-11) Held up, reminders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead entering final furlong, kept on, won at Nottingham 1m stk (4) hvy in Nov beating Subpoena (8-8) by 3l, 4 ran.
Common World (USA) 10-1 (9-6) Mid-division, 7th approaching straight, no impression under pressure from 2f out, 9th of 14, 6l behind Sugarhoneybaby (8-12) at Leopardstown 7f lst stk hvy in Nov.
Babodana 9-2 (8-13) Raced stand side, in touch, ridden over 3f out, kept on one pace final 2f, 5th of 8, 7l behind St Andrews (8-13) at Newmarket 1m lst stk (1) sft in Oct.
Mine (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, behind, outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 10, 9l behind Council Member (9-1) at Redcar 7f lst stk (1) gf in Oct.
My Paris 9-2fav (9-0) Held up in touch, ridden 3f out, no extra inside final furlong, 8th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Bravo Maestro (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Zero Tolerance (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (9-7) Led, headed over 5f out, led again over 3f out, held on well under pressure, won at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct beating St Petersburg (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Realism (FR) 5-1 (8-10) Raced wide, led to 1f out, ran on when headed, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Anani (8-7) at Nad Al Sheba 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb.
Royal Island (IRE) 11-2 (9-4) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, slightly hampered and lost place well over 1f out, no danger after, 9th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Bravo Maestro (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Kings Quay 20-1 (9-4) In touch, effort on wide inside to press leaders 2f out, no extra under pressure final furlong, 5th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Ofaraby (9-5) at Goodwood 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Oct.
Shot To Fame (USA) 18-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Notnowcato (8-11) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Oct.
Blythe Knight (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Held up mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon hung right, kept on, 8th of 15, 5l behind Notnowcato (8-11) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Oct.
Kamanda Laugh 10-3 (9-0) Led early, chased winner, driven and every chance over 2f out, soon outpaced, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Border Music (9-0) at W'hampton 7f stk (2) pol.
Benedict 10-3fav (8-8) Mid-division, pushed along and stayed on final 2f, never going pace to trouble leaders, 4th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Khyber Kim (8-10) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Oct.
Fiefdom (IRE) 33-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, hung left over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 16, 3l behind Home Affairs (8-6) at Haydock 1m 3yo hcp 0-110 (2) gd in May.
Cesare 4-1fav (8-7) In touch, ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, ran on well towards finish, 3rd of 18, 1/2l behind Unshakable (8-1) at Goodwood 1m hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Gentleman's Deal (IRE) Evensfav (9-5) Slightly hampered start and behind, headway on outside 3f out, ridden over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, ran on well, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan beating Almanshood (8-3) by 2l, 11 ran.
Josh 7-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 5l behind Bayeux (8-8) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Capable Guest (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) In rear, headway on outside over 1f out, hung left and ran on to lead post, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Feb beating Sew'n'so Character (8-13) by a nk, 12 ran.
Cardinal Venture (IRE) 5-2fav (9-6) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 12, shd behind Play Master (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol.
Blue Spinnaker (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Switched left at start, always behind, 14th of 15, 10l behind Hartshead (8-8) at York 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Oct.
Primus Inter Pares (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Always behind, 14th of 16, 14l behind Bygone Days (9-2) at Haydock 6f hcp (2) gs in Sept.
Polygonal (FR) 10-1 (8-13) Raced wide, held up, headway over 6f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 8, 8l behind Grand Passion (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 2f stk (2) pol in Feb.
Postgraduate (IRE) 5-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead briefly inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Rio Riva (8-6) at Pontefract 1m 3yo hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Dansili Dancer 5-2jt-fav (8-11) Held up in rear, headway and hung badly left from 2f out, not clear run inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Shannon Springs (8-11) at Epsom 1m 2f stk 0-90 (3) gd in Sept.
Audience 12-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, held up, ridden and not clear run over 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 13, 4l behind Zero Tolerance (9-7) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Zomerlust 14-1 (8-8) Raced far side, held up in touch, edged left over 2f out, kept on well final furlong, 6th of 23, 2 1/2l behind Kenmore (8-6) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Oct.
Nero's Return (IRE) 7-2 (9-4) Held up, ridden and outpaced over 4f out, stayed on final 2f, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Namroud (8-8) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-90 (3) hvy in Oct.
King's Majesty (IRE) 13-8fav (8-4) Held up in touch, progress over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 7, hd behind Kamanda Laugh (9-0) at Newmarket 1m hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Coup d'Etat 16-1 (8-11) Held up, headway halfway, weakened over 2f out, 14th of 18, 17l behind Focus Group (8-4) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Sept.
Sew'n'so Character (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, hung left and ran on final furlong, 2nd of 12, nk behind Capable Guest (9-1) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Feb.
