steadied start, held up in last pair on inside, headway travelling well over 2f out, not clear run switched left then back right over 1f out, squeezed through and not much room on rail and stayed on strongly inside final furlong, 3rd and held towards finish
led until over 1f out, weakened quickly final furlong
raced keenly, held up in last pair, steady headway out wide over 2f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, not reach winner
tracked leader until led inside final 2f, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along to hold winner in pocket 3f out, ridden inside final 2f, went 2nd approaching final furlong, every chance inside final furlong, no extra in 4th towards finish
tracked leaders, held in pocket on rail 3f out, switched out over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, hung right inside final furlong, stayed on gamely
NonRunner
Though twice a winner at this level, Nayef Road wasn’t quite at his best last year and has shown even less in three runs this term. Calling The Wind is a thorough stayer so a step back up in trip will suit but he appears to have a bit find in this grade. Musselburgh winner Enemy is another who needs to up his game while Quickthorn was only running up to form when a well-beaten second behind Trueshan at Nottingham. Tashkhan had finished closer to Alan King’s top-class stayer in the Long Distance Cup here in October but today’s going won’t aid his cause. Placed in the Queen’s Vase, the Irish Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris last year, WORDSWORTH enjoyed a confidence-boosting win at Gowran earlier this month and this first try over 2m is overdue. Princess Zoe has been a fantastic servant to connections but hasn’t won since landing the Group 1 Prix du Cadran in 2020.
Enemy 11-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, smooth headway over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on, comfortable, won at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp (2) gs in Apr beating Dark Jedi (8-13) by 3 3/4l, 14 ran.
Nayef Road (IRE) 7-4 (9-8) Led early, chased winner, ridden and lost 2nd over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 10 3/4l behind Earlofthecotswolds (9-5) at Kempton 2m stks (2) pol in Mar.
Quickthorn 10-3 (9-1) Close up in 4th, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden to chase winner approaching final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Trueshan (9-8) at Nottingham 1m 6f lst stks (1) gs in Apr.
Tashkhan (IRE) 50-1 (8-13) Tracked leader 4f, handy 3rd, led briefly over 2f out until 2f out, chased winner, ridden and no impression when lost 2nd inside final furlong, went 2nd again final 110 yards, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Trueshan (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) gs in Oct.
Wordsworth (IRE) 4-11fav (9-5) Led, soon pressed, headed before halfway, pushed along in 2nd over 3f out, ridden to lead narrowly final 150 yards, kept on best under pressure, won at Gowran Park 1m 6f gd in Apr beating Sunchart (9-5) by hd, 7 ran.
Princess Zoe (GER) 9-1 (9-8) 10th of 14, 30 1/2l behind Stay Foolish (9-6) at Riyadh 1m 7f Grp 3 hcp gd in Feb.
Calling The Wind (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders on inner, going well when ridden 3f out, not quicken, edged left when keeping on for modest third, 3rd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Raymond Tusk (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 4f stks (2) gd in Mar.
