tracked leaders, outpaced halfway, rallied 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, pulled hard, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
always prominent, led over 1f out, ran on strongly
led, strongly challenged over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra closing stages
held up in touch, under pressure over 2f out, soon lost place
chased leaders, effort over 1f out, no impression
outpaced in rear, never dangerous
INVINCIBLE ARMY was just a nose behind subsequent Group 1 winner Sands Of Mali in a Group 2 at Haydock in May having made a successful reappearance at Group 3 level at Ascot. He found the ground too firm on his final two starts of the campaign and conditions should be suitable here. Arbalet was beaten narrowly in a heritage handicap at Ascot in July and was again close up in the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes in August. Major Jumbo reappeared with a victory at Newmarket in April and was performing well throughout the summer in top handicaps and Listed company before ending the campaign winning the Coral Sprint Handicap at York in October. Equilateral won first time out as a juvenile and made a successful reappearance here last May, slamming his rivals by 8l on very fast ground while Eirene is the other course and distance winner in the line-up and she's greatly respected after being placed at Listed and Group 3 level on the track later
Arbalet (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Went to post early, raced keenly, tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, lost 2nd entering final furlong, kept on same pace inside final furlong, held on for 3rd, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Expert Eye (9-1) at York 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Equilateral 3-1 (9-11) Rear of mid-division, headway into 4th and ridden 2f out, 5th 1f out, no extra, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Hit The Bid (9-11) at Dundalk 5f Grp 3 stks (1) pol in Oct.
Invincible Army (IRE) 11-2 (9-5) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 10 1/2l behind Yafta (9-2) at Newbury 6f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Major Jumbo 12-1 (9-7) Chased leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at York 6f hcp (2) sft in Oct beating Flying Pursuit (9-5) by 3/4l, 17 ran.
Mokarris (USA) 17-2 (9-0) Steadied start, soon switched left to inside, held up in rear, pulled out over 2f out, progress and switched left 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Kachy (9-0) at Lingfield 6f lst stks (1) pol in Feb.
Tis Marvellous 14-1 (9-10) In touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, no impression, 10th of 21, 4 1/4l behind A Momentofmadness (9-4) at Doncaster 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Gorgeous Noora (IRE) 2-1 (8-9) Held up in last, headway on outside 2f out, soon ridden to challenge, ran on strongly to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 5f lst stks (1) pol in Feb beating Royal Birth (9-0) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Eirene 8-1 (8-12) Held up and behind, headway over 2f out, ridden just over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Donjuan Triumphant (9-3) at Doncaster 6f lst stks (1) sft in Nov.
Sir Thomas Gresham (IRE) 3-1fav (9-7) Led until 1f out, no extra final furlong, 5th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Merhoob (9-1) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (2) pol in Feb.
