pressed leader, led 6th, headed 7th, led 4 out, headed after next, every chance 2 out, 3rd last, one pace and no impression flat
led until 6th, led next, not fluent and headed 4 out, led again after 3 out, driven and headed when mistake last, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace flat
in rear, not that fluent and soon pushed along, ridden after 5th, behind when mistake next, pulled up after 7th
towards rear, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders on inside, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, bumped 1st, lost place after 3rd, weakened 7th, pulled up before 4 out
held up, mistake 8th, stayed on from 2 out, went 4th last, never nearer
mid-division, not fluent 4 out, well beaten from 3 out
held up in rear, raced wide, jumped left 5th, headway from 7th, jumped left 3 out, 3rd and waited with next, led last, clear flat, easily
tracked leaders, jumped left 1st, outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th when jumped left and fell 3 out
Nonrunner
Previous winners Mercers Court and Royalraise are likely to be involved in the finish of this opener. The latter won easily at Market Rasen last month and looks as though he's getting his act together but Neil King's charge probably has the better overall form having run well in a couple of handicaps since getting off the mark at Warwick in April. However, he's very closely matched with VIVANT POEME on these terms on a line through The Road Ahead. Harry Fry's maiden has been placed in his last three starts and can open his account this afternoon.
Mercers Court (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway tracking leaders 5th, 2nd before 3 out, led after 3 out, hit 2 out and headed, chased winner, kept on run-in but lost 2nd last stride, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Ossie's Dancer (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Royalraise (IRE) 10-11fav (10-12) Made all, clear before 2 out, kept on strongly, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May beating Oh Land Abloom (11-5) by 10l, 7 ran.
Court Finale 100-1 (10-9) Raced wide towards rear, lost touch and struggling before 6th, tailed off, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Binge Drinker (11-12) at Chepstow 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Finnegan's Garden (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Held up in last, went 3rd 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 4, 36l behind To Begin (10-9) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in May.
Lawless Island (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, 2nd 3 out, pushed along and held before next, driven and no chance with winner between last 2, 2nd of 7, 15l behind Black Jack Rover (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gd in May.
Nyetimber (USA) 22-1 (8-13) Prominent, ridden 5f out, weakened over 4f out, 12th of 13, well behind Dolly Colman (8-10) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Mar '12 (flat).
Only Gorgeous (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 20, 22l behind Chap (11-5) at Aintree 2m 1f amt nh flat mdn (3) gd in May.
Royale's Legacy 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, weakened 4th, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Rock N Rhythm (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH mdn hdl (5) sft in Mar.
Vivant Poeme (FR) 11-4fav (11-11) In rear, headway before 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on and always held, 2nd of 8, 2l behind The Road Ahead (11-1) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Willshebetrying 50-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd 9th until 3 out, soon outpaced, lost modest 3rd before next, 4th of 9, 48l behind Ar Mad (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Antony (FR) 20-1 (11-7) In touch, headway chasing leaders 4th, went 2nd and went right next, ridden before bypassing 2 out, weakened quickly, tailed off, 8th of 9, 50l behind As De Mee (11-11) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
