behind, when pulled up over 6f out, dismounted
mid-division, effort over 3f out, weakened and eased over 1f out
mid-division, ridden and headway 3f out, hard driven and stayed on final furlong, nearest finish
always towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened and hung left over 1f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, kept on final furlong, not troubled leaders
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
keen, led and raced wide, switched inside over 8f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, not clear run and switched left 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, never nearer
always towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened and eased final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, not clear run 1f out, soon weakened and eased
in touch, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well
always towards rear, never dangerous
keen hold in mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed inside final furlong, not reached leaders
in touch, ridden and switched right over 2f out, driven and stayed on final furlong
towards rear, not clear run over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish
led main group, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong
One of the most competitive handicaps of the year, in which the three-year-olds have a decent record ( four wins in the last six years). The last two winners of the race, Give The Slip and the ill fated Mediterranean, were Group horses masquerading as a handicappers. This year the three-year-olds are headed by Charley Bates, who has been done no favours by the draw. He has several decent efforts to his name, but he is reasonably exposed and the Handicapper had plenty to go on when framing the weights. Dawn Invasion, from a yard that knows what it takes to win this with an unexposed individual, (having won this with Give The Slip), looks one to keep on the right side. He steps into unknown territory over this trip, but he shaped as though this was within his compass, when staying on dourly to land the valuable Tote Gold Trophy at Goodwood last month. Barathea Blazer will have the assistance of Mick Kinane, but he will need to find plenty of improvement if he is to take a hand in the finish. Lightly raced this term, Harlestone Grey is worthy of respect, even though he has only a maiden win at Bath to his name. He caught the eye on his seasonal reappearence, under a big weight, when a never nearer tenth at Newmarket's Craven meeting, beaten less than five lengths. He then was just denied by Warrsan over this trip at Goodwood. Given a break since then, he comes into this a fresh horse and leaves the impresssion he has been laid out for this. The consistent Moon Emperor looks sure to give a good account, but he finds winning difficult, while the ultra game Hugs Dancer, is another who should run well without being quite good enough to win. Bourgeois a Listed performer in France, took a while to find his feet this side of the water, but he bounced back to form last time and with this step up in trip expected to suit, he could turn out to be a danger. Mana D'Argent, who doesn't know how to run a bad race and the in form King's Welcome are others to consider along with Pole Star, who comes from a yard that could probably saddle a donkey to win at present. The latter, whose close up fourth at Ascot was made to look better when the winner of that event Ulundi, went on to run a courageous, if somewhat unlucky fourth in the Group 1 Arlington Million at the weekend. He looks certain to run well, but the vote goes to Sarangani, who has done nothing but improve since he tackled a trip and although he has gone up a fair bit in the weights, he is open to more improvement and is taken to win this for the north.
