held up in last pair, headway on inside 2f out, plugged on to modest 5th inside final furlong, never involved
always behind, lost touch over 3f out, tailed off
pulled hard, held up, headway to go close up in 4th after 4f, pushed along 5f out, weakened over 3f out
held up in touch on inside, switched left inside final 3f, headway soon after, driven and no response 2f out, soon beaten and hung right
took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd 9f out, driven to challenge approaching final 2f, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch, headway 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, led narrowly and bumped twice inside final furlong, no extra and headed towards finish
tracked leader until 9f out, stayed in 3rd, pushed along 4f out, ridden to lead just over 1f out, narrowly headed when hung left under pressure inside final furlong, stayed on gamely to lead again close home
led, pushed along 5f out, ridden and narrowly headed approaching final furlong, stayed on, held when lost 3rd towards finish
tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, one pace when switched left over 2f out, sustained run from over 1f out, went 3rd towards finish
It's difficult to get past last year's winner FAME AND GLORY. He'll be spot on for this having landed a prep-race at Navan last month albeit only by a neck, but regular partner Jamie Spencer is back on board and Aidan O'Brien's high-class stayer already has a verdict over most of the opposition. Saddler's Rock is an exception and the latter's four length defeat of Opinion Poll in last year's Doncaster Cup gives him every chance on the book. But he was getting plenty of weight from the latter as a three-year-old and will need to improve competing on more equal terms this season. The same applies to Colour Vision, who was not far behind Fame And Glory when third in the Champions Long Distance Cup over 2m here in October when Opinion Poll was second and Nehaam finished fourth. He made a winning start in Godolphin's colours at Kempton last month and Frankie prefers him to last year's runner-up Opinion Poll. The remainder have it all to do in this company.
Askar Tau (FR) 8-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 10, 11l behind Opinion Poll (9-4) at Sandown 2m Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
Bridge Of Gold (USA) 2-1 (9-8) Held up tracking leading trio, went 3rd over 2f out, soon ridden, edged right over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 6, 5l behind Ithoughtitwasover (8-10) at Hamilton 1m 4f listed hcp 0-110 (1) gs in May.
Caucus 9-2fav (9-4) Held up in touch, ridden 4f out, soon lost place, 12th of 15, 10l behind Easy Terms (8-10) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in May.
Fame And Glory 5-4fav (9-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, close up and pressed leader after 5f, led 5f out, clear 4f out, reduced advantage 3f out, ridden and challenged over 1f out, kept on well under pressure final furlong, won at Navan 1m 6f Listed stks (1) gd in May beating Unaccompanied (9-0) by nk, 7 ran.
Nehaam 10-3 (8-12) Tracked leaders, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leader, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Hawaafez (8-7) at Newbury 1m 5f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) gs in May.
Opinion Poll (IRE) 5-4fav (9-4) In touch, smooth headway 2f out, led just inside final furlong, soon clear, eased near finish, comfortable, won at Sandown 2m Grp 3 (1) gf in May beating Ibicenco (9-0) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Colour Vision (FR) 9-2 (8-12) Steadied start, held up last, good headway on outside when switched right between rivals approaching final 2f, soon challenging, quickened to lead over 1f out, ridden and edged right inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, eased close home, won at Kempton 2m Group 3 (1) pol in May beating Red Cadeaux (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Gulf of Naples (IRE) 6-4fav (9-0) Tracked clear leader, under pressure well over 3f out, rallied over 1f out, never able to challenge, 3rd of 5, 7l behind Cavalryman (9-0) at York 1m 6f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) gf in May.
Saddler's Rock (IRE) 4-1 (9-10) Held up in 4th, closer approaching straight, pushed along in 3rd over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on same pace without really threatening winner, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Midnight Soprano (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 6f Listed stks (1) hvy.
