towards rear, ridden straight, effort on outside and stayed on inside final furlong, never nearer
in touch, 5th straight, not much room when ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride and always rear
keen hold early, in touch, one pace over 2f out, driven and stayed on inside final furlong
led, headed over 1f out, 5th and beaten when lost action and eased inside final furlong
held up towards rear, not much room and making headway when squeezed through 2f out, stayed on final furlong but never going pace to reach leaders
held up in rear, late headway final furlong but not reach leaders
sweating, close up, 3rd straight, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
slowly into stride, soon recovered into mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon not much room and switched right, stayed on inside final furlong but never going pace to reach leaders
slowly into stride, soon in mid-division on outside, ridden and struggling over 2f out
in touch, 6th and travelling well straight, chased leading pair briefly 2f out, hanging left and no extra inside final furlong
held up towards rear, 13th and plenty to do straight, steady headway on outside from over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven out
held up in mid-division, headway on outside over 2f out, chased winner approaching final furlong, ran on but always just held
slowly into stride, held up in rear, keeping on at one pace when hung left on to inside rail and eased up final furlong
behind, last straight and never in contention
chased leaders, 4th and ridden straight, weakening when hampered 2f out and soon eased
chased leader, ridden straight, weakened rapidly inside final 3f
Nonrunner
This looks a really competitive handicap with recent winners Star of Light, All That And More and Chantaco all with solid claims but marginal preference is for Thunder Rock. The selection ran a race full of promise on his return at Newmarket last month on what was only his fourth career start and, with further improvement to come, Sir Michael Stoute's colt gets the vote. Counsel's Opinion is a consistent performer in this grade and should run his race again along with Mark Johnston's Crosspeace, although both appear a shade high in the weights at present. The Michael Jarvis-trained Putra Kuantan lost little in defeat behind a well-handicapped rival on his return last month and is entitled to respect, while Look Again has run solid races in two decent handicaps in his last two starts and should again be thereabouts. Richard Fahey's gelding is closely matched with Star of Light on their running at Newmarket and it will be interesting to see how that form works out, while All That And More has more to do off an 8lb higher mark than when scoring here last month. Recent Zetland Gold Cup winner Chantaco is another to consider but Thunder Rock is less exposed than most and he gets the vote.
Crosspeace (IRE) 15-8fav (9-1) Tracked clear leader, closed to lead inside final 4f, driven and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 6, 9l behind Distinction (9-7) at Newbury 1m 5f lst stk (1) sft in May.
Profit's Reality (IRE) 18-1 (8-12) Took keen hold, held up, headway 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Akarem (9-1) at Ascot 1m 4f lst stk (1) sft in May.
Counsel's Opinion (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Held up, headway and not much room over 2f out, soon ridden to go 2nd, kept on, not trouble winner, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Maraahel (9-0) at Chester 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
Star of Light 9-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gd in May beating Look Again (8-2) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
All That And More (IRE) 9-2co-fav (8-7) Made all, quickened over 1f out, ran on, readily, won at Epsom 1m 2f hcap (2) gd in Apr beating Impeller (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Chantaco (USA) 4-1fav (9-0) Held up mid-division, headway 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on well inside final furlong to lead towards finish, won at Redcar 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in May beating Ace of Hearts (9-10) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Impeller (IRE) 11-1 (8-13) Held up, headway halfway, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 10th of 11, 18l behind Wild Savannah (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in May.
Kings Quay 20-1 (9-7) Steadied at start, held up, headway 2f out, switched right over 1f out, ran on final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Minority Report (9-3) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-100 (2) frm in May.
Red Lancer 25-1 (8-11) Mid-division, effort over 3f out, no impression, 8th of 21, 35l behind Come On Jonny (8-0) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-110 (2) hvy in Nov.
Polygonal (FR) 66-1 (8-7) Dwelt and towards rear, never dangerous, 18th of 30, 23l behind Blythe Knight (8-10) at Redcar 1m hcap (2) sft in Mar.
Putra Kuantan 7-1 (9-1) Held up in last place, ridden and ran on final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 8, hd behind Fajr (8-6) at Newmarket 1m hcap (3) gd in May.
Chancellor (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Mid-division, making headway on rails when checked approaching final furlong, stayed on, 7th of 11, 7l behind Tabadul (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2f hcap (4) std in May.
Look Again 5-1fav (8-6) In touch, headway over 3f out, led going easily over 2f out, ridden and headed close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Blue Spinnaker (8-9) at York 1m 2f hcap (2) gs in May.
Nero's Return (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Raced in 6th, pushed along 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 6l behind Tanzanite (8-13) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-95 (3) hvy in May.
Bobby Charles 7-2fav (9-5) Held up, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 10, 20l behind London Express (8-4) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) hvy in Apr.
Nightspot 11-1 (9-2) Prominent, ridden to chase leaders 4f out, weakened quickly over 3f out, last of 13, 24l behind Clueless (8-12) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Sept.
Gig Harbor 25-1 (9-8) Towards rear, some headway 6f out, soon ridden and weakened over 1f out, 11th of 13, 15l behind High Action (9-2) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Jul.
Thunder Rock (IRE) 9-4fav (8-6) Dwelt, stumbled start, held up, pushed along halfway, headway and switched right over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, no extra near finish, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Wild Savannah (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in May.
Evolution Ex (USA) 16-1 (8-11) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, shaken up over 2f out, never near leaders, 13th of 16, 11l behind Cool Hunter (8-11) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in May.
