held up towards rear, under pressure 5f out, struggling in rear 3f out
pushed along from start and soon 3rd, led 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led until 5f out, tracked leader, pushed along in close 3rd and every chance 2f out, weakened final furlong
took keen hold in touch on inside, driven over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
tracked leader until over 5f out, soon lost place, last and strugging 3f out, tailed off
tracked leading trio on outside, challenged 2f out, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, challenged and upsides throughout final furlong, led post
held up towards rear, pushed along 5f out, weakened over 2f out, soon hung left when beaten
raced wide towards rear, headway on outside over 4f out, effort over 2f out, soon one pace, hung right and no impression inside final furlong
mid-division, driven along over 2f out, no impression
took keen hold, held up towards rear, good headway on inside 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and stayed on well, headed final 100 yards, no extra well inside final furlong
started slowly, in rear, pushed along 6f out, soon driven along, ridden on outside 3f out, no danger
Any number of these could find mountains of improvement for stepping up in trip and we hope MIKHAIL GLINKA can do just that by beating Corsica, with Private Story and Total Command likely to prove best of a bunch of horses taking a big step up in class. Aidan O'Brien has always thought highly of our pick who has been kept back for this following a satisfactory return at Leopardstown in April. That day he took an age to find his stride but finished off the race strongly despite having been keen early on, shaping in the process as though stamina was very much his strength. The trainer took this in 2007 with a similarly profiled horse and he looks the class act of the race; if he gets home it's hard to envisage him being far away. Mark Johnston is very much the man to follow in this contest having landed five of the last nine renewals and in Corsica he has a horse who could further enhance that record. This son of Cape Cross was beaten in a handicap last time but the winner Harris Tweed is well regarded and time should prove he had no chance of carrying top weight to victory in that; his effort was admirable and Johnston must surely be confident he'll get the trip. Private Story represents an in-form combination and is feared despite needing to find plenty for this step up to two miles on the figures. In staying on for second last time he looked as though he'd do just that and quick ground holds no fears. Total Command is one of several taking a big step up in grade but Sir Michael Stoute wouldn't be sending him here were he not confident the horse could handle the uplift. He's a very well bred colt who shapes like a stayer but we must remember he only won an average maiden last time and any hopes are pinned on him improving almost beyond measure for the increased emphasis on stamina. Icon Dream wasn't beaten far in the Chester Vase where Chink Of Light was back in third but David Wachman's horse surely needs a bit of cut in the ground to do himself justice and that appears unlikely. Andrew Balding's horse has plenty to find on ratings although he should be better served by this trip whilst well-bred maiden Alburj should be capable of better but surely will find one or two too good on ground plenty quick enough. Troas has work to do with Icon Dream on their run behind Jan Vermeer but the cheek-pieces may help him to bridge the gap and John Oxx's horses always have to be respected whilst Theology looks a bit of a monkey but clearly has an engine. It's hard to be dogmatic about the chances of any horse here as all 12 tackle two miles for the first time but Mikhail Glinka has a touch of quality about him and that swings the vote in his favour.
Alburj (USA) 9-4 (9-4) Chased leaders, 4th entering straight, ridden in 3rd 2f out, 2nd 1f out, closed on eased down winner when hampered near line, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Unity (8-13) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f mdn stks gd.
Chink Of Light 16-1 (8-12) Led after 1f , joined 4f out, driven and headed when hampered well over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression with leading pair final furlong, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Ted Spread (8-12) at Chester 1m 4f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gs in May.
Corsica (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Soon tracked winner, ridden 2f out, not pace of winner and no impression from over 1f out, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Harris Tweed (8-3) at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Icon Dream (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Soon raced in moderate 5th, ridden to close 2f out, switched to outer and no impression from over 1f out, kept on, 4th of 7, 3l behind Jan Vermeer (9-8) at Curragh 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 gf in May.
Magic Prospect (FR) (8-13) 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Plenty Pocket (8-13) at Saint-cloud(FR) 1m 4f 3yo stk gd.
Mikhail Glinka (IRE) 11-10fav (9-1) Reluctant to load, keen hold chasing leaders early, 5th 4f out, ridden entering straight, kept on well final furlong to strongly press leaders close home, 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind Puncher Clynch (9-1) at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Monterey (IRE) 9-2 (8-11) Chased leaders, led and hung badly right over 2f out, raced alone stands side, kept on well, easily, won at Catterick 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gf beating Yankee Bright (8-8) by 7l, 13 ran.
Moose Moran (USA) 7-2 (8-9) Held up in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, headway 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Monterosso (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gd in May.
Private Story (USA) 6-1 (9-7) Held up in touch on outside, soon dropped towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headway over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Awsaal (9-4) at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in May.
Theology 2-1fav (8-9) Held up in touch, headway over 3f out, going well over 2f out, quickened to lead over 1f out, soon clear, easily, won at Goodwood 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gd in May beating Kid Charlemagne (10-0) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Total Command 6-5fav (8-9) Too keen hold in 4th, effort to close on leader and pushed along 3f out, challenged 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Goodwood 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gd in May beating Bombadero (8-9) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Troas (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Soon settled well off pace towards rear, ridden before straight, soon no impression, no extra from over 1f out, 6th of 7, 11l behind Jan Vermeer (9-8) at Curragh 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 gf in May.
