chased leader far side, led group over 2f out until over 1f out, weakened final furlong
raced far side, steadied start, held up, not clearest of runs over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never troubled leaders
gave problems loading, held up in centre, headway over 1f out, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
raced centre, slowly into stride, held up towards rear, some headway hanging right over 1f out, never threatened
raced far side, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
raced centre, chased leaders, ran on inside final furlong, led inside final 150 yards, readily
raced centre, chased group leader, hung right 2f out, soon weakened and eased
raced centre, chased leaders, led overall 2f out, headed and not pace of winner inside final 150 yards, kept on
prominent centre, pushed along halfway, weakened over 2f out
led far side group until over 2f out, chased leaders, weakened well over 1f out
helup far side, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
raced centre, chased leaders, weakened inside final 2f
held up and behind in centre, headway over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, not reach leaders
led centre group until 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders in centre, ran on inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge
chased far side leaders, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened
raced centre held up in mid-division, headway near side of group over 1f out, ran on well towards finish, not quite get up
chased leaders in centre, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
raced centre, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, not clear run and switched right inside final furlong, ran on, not reach leaders
held up far side, headway and hung right over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
chased leaders in centre, weakened in closing stages
raced centre, held up, never involved
chased leaders far side, weakened inside final 2f
Five of the last nine winners of this have started at 25/1 or bigger and this year’s renewal looks equally impossible to fathom. Only one of the last winners has started from a single-figure draw so that’s a worry for the likes of Oh This Is Us, Cardsharp and the Richard Fahey trio Zap, Gallipoli and Clubbable. Burnt Sugar had six of today’s rivals behind in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket two weeks ago but he has picked up a small penalty and it would be no surprise if some of those just behind reversed the form. Makzeem wasn’t the best away that day but still held every chance until well inside the final furlong, though FIRMAMENT was on his heels and also comes into the reckoning. David O’Meara’s charge is a standing dish in handicaps of this nature and was fifth in this last year when 10lb higher, ahead of Makzeem, Shady Mccoy, Flaming Spear and Burnt Sugar. Il Primo Sole is back over his winning trip having run well in hot contests over a mile since scoring at Kempton and Jersey Stakes fifth Arbalet could also go well but no three-year-old has won this since 2003. Ripp Orf was beaten off this mark at Newmarket last week and will do well to bounce back but Chessman is relatively unexposed in handicaps and not without a chance.
Oh This Is Us (IRE) 3-1jfav (9-5) Close up on inner, headway to lead approaching final furlong, soon pressed, ran on gamely, won at Chester 7f lst stks (1) gd in Jul beating Promising (9-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Mubtasim (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders stands side, driven 3f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 16th of 18, 14 3/4l behind Burnt Sugar (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Flaming Spear (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Raced far side, held up, headway chasing group leaders over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace of leaders in centre, 5th of 30, 3 1/4l behind Settle For Bay (9-1) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Makzeem 9-1 (9-5) Held up behind centre, driven and headway inside final 2f, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to challenge and every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 5th of 18, 1 1/4l behind Burnt Sugar (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Cardsharp 20-1 (9-5) Tracked leader centre, driven over 2f out, soon ridden and every chance, kept on inside final furlong, held towards finish, 4th of 18, 1l behind Burnt Sugar (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Burnt Sugar (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Mid-division centre, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, led inside final 100 yards, held on well, won at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul beating Shady Mccoy (8-13) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Brian The Snail (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Raced centre to near side, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 13th of 28, 5 3/4l behind Bacchus (9-6) at Ascot 6f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Firmament 12-1 (9-3) Mid-division centre, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, driven and kept on final furlong, never pace to get on terms, 6th of 18, 1 3/4l behind Burnt Sugar (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Arbalet (IRE) 100-1 (9-1) Behind in centre, headway chasing leaders 2f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 21, 6l behind Expert Eye (9-1) at Ascot 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Ultimate Avenue (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, raced centre to near side, held up, ridden and hung badly right from well over 1f out, never on terms, 19th of 28, 7 3/4l behind Bacchus (9-6) at Ascot 6f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Mukalal 6-1 (8-13) Led stands side group, overall leader over 2f out, ridden and headed inside final 2f, weakened final furlong, 15th of 18, 13 1/2l behind Burnt Sugar (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Shady Mccoy (USA) 25-1 (8-13) Held up in rear stands side, switched left and headway over 2f out, ridden and effort over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, not quite reach winner, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Burnt Sugar (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Il Primo Sole 9-1 (9-7) Led stands side group 3f, tracked winner, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression when lost place inside final furlong, 5th of 30, 2 1/2l behind Ostilio (8-9) at Ascot 1m hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Chessman (IRE) 50-1 (9-5) In touch in rear, wide and headway approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on, nearest finish, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Oh This Is Us (9-5) at Chester 7f lst stks (1) gd in Jul.
Sabador (FR) 4-1jfav (8-10) Held up mid-division, ridden entering final furlong, no impression, 9th of 12, 7 1/4l behind Baraweez (8-9) at Chester 1m hcp (2) gd in May.
Via Serendipity 8-1 (8-13) Mid-division, driven and headway on outer over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on to chase front pair inside final furlong, always held, 3rd of 15, 2 3/4l behind Tigre du Terre (8-8) at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Louie de Palma 3-1fav (9-4) Chased leader, switched left 2f out, soon edged left, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to challenge, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Silent Echo (9-8) at Windsor 6f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Ripp Orf (IRE) 3-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, not clear run entering final 2f, switched right approaching final furlong, ran on to go 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Vintager (9-9) at Newmarket 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Cold Stare (IRE) 66-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden and no impression final furlong, 8th of 15, 6 3/4l behind Crack On Crack On (8-6) at Haydock 1m hcp (2) gd in May.
Spanish City 7-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders centre, headway over 2f out, led overall inside final 2f, soon ridden, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, headed inside final 100 yards, just held, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Burnt Sugar (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Gallipoli (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Led after 1f, ridden and hung left over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Zap (9-6) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Charles Molson 10-1 (9-10) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, ran on final 100 yards, not reach leaders, 4th of 8, 1 3/4l behind Poet's Society (9-10) at Leicester 7f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Hajjam 11-4 (9-10) Held up mid-division, headway 2f out, soon challenged, ridden over 1f out, kept on and every chance inside final furlong, 3rd and held towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Georgian Manor (9-0) at Doncaster 7f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Right Action 16-1 (9-8) Mid-division, outpaced 2f out, soon ridden, never threatened leaders, 5th of 8, 11l behind Georgian Manor (9-0) at Doncaster 7f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Zap 7-1 (9-6) In touch in rear, pushed along and headway inside final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead final strides, won at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul beating Swift Approval (9-10) by hd, 7 ran.
Clubbable 12-1 (9-1) Mid-division, driven over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, never threatened leaders, 6th of 9, 9l behind First Contact (9-7) at Newmarket 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Mullionheir 20-1 (8-6) Behind most of way, 7th of 10, 4l behind Silent Echo (9-8) at Windsor 6f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Lucymai 4-1 (9-0) Raced very wide, close up, effort 2f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 13, 5l behind Carolinae (9-0) at Chelmsford City 7f lst fll stks (1) pol in Jun.
Lady Freyja 12-1 (9-4) Raced centre, tracked leader, every chance over 2f out, soon lost place, last of 8, 20 3/4l behind Beshaayir (9-5) at Ascot 1m hcp fll (3) gf in Jul.
