held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace
in touch, lost place 6f out
tracked leader until over 5f out, weakened over 3f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
held up, headway on inside over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden edged right and headed inside final furlong, kept on
held up, never a factor
raced wide intouch, ridden and hung left over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
raced wide towards rear, never a factor
in touch, headway to lead over 2f out, soon headed, ridden and still every chance 1f out, kept on one pace
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer
in rear, headway on outer over 2f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on
in rear, plenty to do 2f out, ran on final furlong, not reach winner
Laughing Boy is the obvious starting point here as Willie Mullins rarely sends flat horses across the Irish Sea and he's got to be monitored closely in the market despite making limited appeal from a form perspective. Simon Walker rode the winner of this last year so Strategic Mount also enters calculations with cheek-pieces on. He's well-handicapped on old form and acts on the ground but the horse didn't show enough in a race he rather owns at Ascot to make serious appeal. Instead we'll side with POOL OF KNOWLEDGE, who is unexposed on the level and travelled well on his way to second last time. All his best form in France came on soft ground so the more rain the better, but providing the word soft appears in the going description he's the one for us. The consistent mares Bavarica and Bramalea both make each-way appeal as does course winner Maybe I Wont, whereas Cool Strike and King's Masque may want better ground and Cosmic Sun has been out of sorts recently.
Laughing Boy (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, some progress early straight, kept on same pace from 1 1/2f out, 6th of 14, 5l behind Top Spin (7-11) at Killarney 1m 6f hcap gf.
The Last Don (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Led early, settled 3rd, dropped to 6th halfway, kept on same pace from 4f out, 6th of 9, 10l behind Endless Intrigue (11-11) at Killarney 2m 1f am stks (4yo+) gf.
Cool Strike (UAE) 16-1 (9-11) Led, ridden and stayed on when pressed from 2f out, headed 1f out, outpaced by leading duo inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Kansai Spirit (9-8) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Strategic Mount 12-1 (9-4) Held up behind, switched outside and headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, never on terms, 5th of 10, 10l behind Yorgunnabelucky (9-3) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Cosmic Sun 12-1 (8-8) Mid-division on outside, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace, weakened final furlong, 13th of 14, 14l behind Hawk Mountain (8-7) at York 2m hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
King's Masque 7-2fav (9-0) In touch, headway to press leader 3f out, ridden and soon every chance, driven inside final furlong, led post, won at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf beating Hel's Angel (8-10) by shd, 9 ran.
Wing Play (IRE) 11-1 (9-10) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, no progress over 2f out, 7th of 11, 12l behind Absinthe (10-0) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft.
Foxhaven 11-8fav (9-12) Tracked leading pair, going well on outside from 3f out, rider delayed challenge until over 1f out, ridden to lead and hung immediately left entering final furlong, kept on, won at Newbury 1m 3f clm stks (5) gd beating Lang Shining (9-9) by 1l, 6 ran.
Admirable Duque (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Held up in 4th, not much room and switched right 3f out, soon improved, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged left well inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Ffos Las 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) sft beating Act Of Kalanisi (9-6) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Pool Of Knowledge (FR) 16-1 (9-6) Held up in touch, not clear run 2f out, soon switched right, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Magicalmysterytour (10-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) sft.
Bavarica 9-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, effort going well 3f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Mistoffelees (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 2f app hcp (5) gd.
Bramalea 7-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway to lead stands' side group over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, led overall 1f out, headed near finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind The Starboard Bow (9-3) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) sft.
Celticello (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Raced in 3rd, chased winner over 8f out, lost 2nd 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 8, 7l behind Cossack Prince (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f clm stks (6) pol in Feb '09.
Maybe I Wont 6-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, effort on inside to lead over 2f out, clear over 1f out, ran on, won at Epsom Downs 1m 2f app hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jul beating Markhesa (8-10) by 5l, 9 ran.
Arashi 17-2 (9-5) Mid-division, effort to chase leaders on inside when hampered well over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on well inside final furlong to go 2nd towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 11, hd behind Master Nimbus (9-6) at Beverley 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
