stumbled leaving stalls, brief effort 2f out
in touch, weakened over 2f out
held up, ridden and headway 2f out, led just inside final furlong, driven out
mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened
prominent, ridden soon after halfway and weakened
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, fading when headed just inside final furlong
held up, ridden soon after halfway
mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 2f out
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon held
in touch, ridden and every chance 1f out, no extra
A pinsticker's sprint here with Phantom Whisper, Conquest and Stamford Blue three against the field and the latter gets the vote. Ron Harris's string are in good nick and Stamford Blue loves it here, having won three times over c&d, two of which came with cut in the ground. He is now 2lb below his latest winning mark of 80 and he looks to have a decent shout. Phantom Whisper does not win too often and is 3lb higher than his last success. He was runner-up to the notorious Pawan last time, which is not frightening anyone off, so we will oppose. Conquest acts well enough with some cut in the ground and also over this trip, and he will find this easier than his latest Windsor outing. William Haggas is carrying all before him this season so the four-year-old is very much respected. Jake the Snake drops back to a trip over which he won earlier in the year and can't be ruled out, while Esteem Machine acts with cut but just looks to have a bit too much weight on his back. Stamford Blue is the one for us.
Conquest (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Towards rear, switched right over 1f out, kept on, never on terms, 7th of 14, 6l behind Hitchens (9-1) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Esteem Machine (USA) 7-2jt-fav (9-4) Led after 1f, headed approaching final furlong, edged right, weakened final furlong, 7th of 10, 8l behind Jimmy Styles (8-12) at Ascot 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in May.
Phantom Whisper 5-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, held up, ridden halfway, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong to take 2nd close home, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Pawan (8-12) at Warwick 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Berbice (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Raced far side towards rear, never a danger, 24th of 28, 21l behind Regal Parade (8-6) at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 0-105 (2) frm in Jun.
Edge of Light 8-1 (8-6) Led, driven and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 7, 7l behind Sir Gerry (9-4) at Ascot 6f 3yo lst stk (1) gs in Apr.
King's Caprice 16-1 (9-1) Led, soon clear, raced keenly, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Froissee (8-4) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in May.
Vhujon (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, always behind, 17th of 19, 19l behind Brave Prospector (9-0) at York 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Jun.
Signor Peltro 7-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, raced stand side, ridden well over 2f out, soon no impression, 12th of 14, 13l behind Geojimali (8-9) at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Jun.
Jake The Snake (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) In touch to halfway, lost place over 3f out, well behind when eased over 1f out, 12th of 13, 33l behind Ben Chorley (9-4) at Newbury 1m hcap (4) sft in May.
Shes Minnie 10-1 (9-9) Towards rear, not much room after 1f, ridden over 1f out, never on terms, 9th of 11, 10l behind Mango Music (9-10) at Pontefract 6f fll hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Stamford Blue 10-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Peter Island (8-12) at Warwick 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.
Millfields Dreams 14-1 (9-1) Prominent, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Kempton 7f app hcp (5) std beating Grizedale (8-8) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
