always in rear group, never dangerous
led, hard pressed over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, rallied under pressure just held
never better than mid-division
held up behind, stayed on final 2f, never nearer
tracked leader after 2f, pressed leader over 3f out, weakened from 2f out
held up, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out
mid-division, ridden 3f out, no headway and weakened 2f out
tracked leader 2f, stayed prominent, pressed leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, held on close home all out
started slowly, towards rear, late headway inside final 2f, kept on, nearest finish
mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong nearest finish
held up in rear group, kept on final 2f never dangerous
started slowly, always in rear
prominent, ridden along over 3f out, weakend 2f out
towards rear, moderate headway over 2f out, never nearer
From a shortlist containing Michabo, Tilt, Stoop To Conquer and Tannenberg, we will side with Michabo as the selection. Michabo has improved for a step up in trip this season and, having given Ebtikraar a good run last time, still looks reasonably weighted and can go well. Self Respect improved for a visor two runs ago but was disappointiong last time. Tilt comes here in good heart and is another to consider, while Velvet Heights' best run has so far come on the all-weather. Quizzene bounced back to form at Newmarket last time and can't be ruled out, while Secret Pact holds claims on his juvenile form but takes a big step up in trip. Stoop To Conquer looks handily weighted and has form enough to go well, Salute has dropped to below a winning mark from last summer, Tannenberg looks to be ahead of the handicapper based on his Pontefract win, but Isa'af is three pounds above his heavy-ground Pontefract winning mark. It all adds up to a competitive event, in which the selection is Michabo.
Anousa (IRE) 28-1 (9-2) Held up, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, 18l behind Vaughan (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (3) gf in May '05.
Michabo (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Led, hard ridden 2f out, stayed on, no extra when caught final strides, 2nd of 6, nk behind Ebtikaar (9-10) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcap (2) frm in May.
Self Respect (USA) 9-2fav (8-9) Slowly into stride, hampered after 1f, dropped rear, headway 3f out, weakened well over 2f out, 14th of 16, 37l behind Millville (9-4) at York 1m 4f hcap (3) gs in May.
Tilt 85-40fav (9-10) Mid-division, pushed along 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, 3rd of 15, 1/2l behind Polish Power (9-4) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in May.
Velvet Heights (IRE) 7-2fav (9-4) Mid-division, driven over 5f out, soon beaten, last of 15, well behind Sphinx (8-3) at York 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in May.
Quizzene (USA) 11-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Finalmente (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in May.
Secret Pact (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed final furlong, rallied under ever chance inside last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 14, 3/4l behind Alpine Gold (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 2yo hcp 0-90 (C2) sft in Oct '04.
Stoop To Conquer 5-1 (9-9) Held up behind leaders, driven over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 16, 48l behind Kayf Aramis (8-0) at York 2m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in May.
Llamadas 16-1 (7-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon behind and weakened, last of 6, 24l behind Solent (8-13) at Newbury 1m 4f hcap (2) sft in May.
Salute (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, hampered after 3f, ridden to lead 2f out, headed 1f out, close 3rd when badly hampered near finish, not recover, 5th of 13, 4l behind Hue (8-4) at Goodwood 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gs in May.
Tannenberg (IRE) 5-1 (8-8) Dwelt, headway over 4f out, led over 2f out, clear approaching final furlong, pushed out, won at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in May beating Rocket Force (8-5) by 6l, 7 ran.
Full House (IRE) 5-1 (8-11) Held up, every chance over 1f out, badly hampered and switched right 1f out, no extra inside final, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Classic Millennium (7-7) at Kempton 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (D) gf in Jul '03.
Isa'af (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Towards rear, headway over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 16, 45l behind Kayf Aramis (8-0) at York 2m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in May.
Yankeedoodledandy (IRE) 25-1 (8-0) Held up behind, ridden, wide straight 3f out, weakened 2f out, 10th of 12, 19l behind Mudawin (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in May.
Master Cobbler (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, pushed along over 4f, ridden over 2f, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 11, 9l behind Sphinx (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcap (4) sft in May.
Heathcote 15-2 (8-9) Mid-division, driven over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 7th of 16, 15l behind Kayf Aramis (8-0) at York 2m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in May.
