with leader, ridden 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
towards rear, headway 2f out, effort when not much room over 1f out, kept on under pressure towards finish
in touch, headway and effort over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, kept on
towards rear, pushed along halfway, no impression
mid-division, pushed along halfway, headway and effort approaching final furlong, no extra towards finish
towards rear, pushed along halfway, effort over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong to go 2nd close home
tracked leaders, pushed along when hampered 1f out, weakened
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, beaten when not much room over 1f out
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
Continent will be a popular choice here, and is selected over Baltic King, Bishops Court and Forever Phoenix to name but three. Dandy Nicholls is the master at getting his sprinters ready to perform at top level, and Continent has already been there, having won the July Cup and Prix de l'Abbaye in the past. The seven-year-old had not won for some time before scoring at Nottingham recently, but a repeat of that effort should see him go close. If he does not dwell early on then he should once again see off the challenge of another veteran in Bishops Court, and our confidence would be strengthened by the assistance of Darryll Holland, who has ridden him to all four victories while in the care of Nicholls. Baltic King did nothing wrong when scoring narrowly at Ascot last time but will find the selection a tough one to pass, while Forever Phoenix is expected to perform better than he did against Continent at Nottingham where he reared up at the start. Enchantment was a runaway winner at York last time but this is a different level and he would do well to repeat the feat. With the ground in his favour, a back-to-form Continent is the choice.
