held up towards rear, never involved
prominent, ridden over 2f out, ridden and lost 2nd 2f out, weakened and eased final furlong
held up towards rear, steady headway on outside 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, close 3rd when carried left towards finish
slowly into stride, soon mid-division on outside, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, no impression soon after
chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, 2nd inside final furlong, staying on pressing winner and every chance when carried left and badly bumped towards finish, just held
broke well, took keen hold, soon steadied tracking leaders on outside, pushed along and every chance 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out
held up in rear, going for run on inside when hampered inside final 2f, soon switched left, no headway
mid-division, headway chasing leaders when switched left inside final 2f, one pace and no impression final furlong
slowly into stride, soon mid-division on inside, keeping on at same pace when not clear run and switched right over 1f out, ridden and no impression final furlong
towards rear, headway over 1f out, never nearer
led, joined 2f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, weakened well inside final furlong
chased leaders on inside, hampered and snatched up inside final 2f, ridden and weakened over 1f out, behind and eased inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, keeping on when not clearest of runs inside final furlong, soon hampered and switched left never able to challenge
held up in mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, switched right and kept on inside final furlong, never able to challenge
chased leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon hung badly left, held on, all out
NonRunner
Punters hoping to get the Festival off to a profitable start may need the use of a crystal ball as this is a devilishly competitive handicap. Mark Johnston has trained four of the last eight winners but, surprisingly, doesn’t have a runner this year. Four and five-year-olds have generally dominated and that fact counts against What About Carlo, who won a weak Listed race at Newbury last month but was beaten off an 8lb lower mark earlier at Windsor. A number of these ran in the John Smith’s Cup at York with Uae Prince doing best. However, he was only a neck ahead of GARCIA, who didn’t get much luck in-running. Good fortune will be needed in this big field but it’s probably worth taking a chance on Richard Fahey’s gelding today with his yard in excellent form. Khairaat was favourite for last month’s Wolferton Handicap at Ascot when bidding for a four-timer. He wasn’t disgraced but may be in the handicapper’s grip now. Murad Khan has an excellent strike-rate and stablemate Baydar is starting to look well treated while Abdon, Fabricate and Speed Company are others worth a second look.
What About Carlo (FR) 5-2jfav (9-4) Tracked leader, led going well inside final 3f, ridden clear over 1f out, kept on strongly, won at Newbury 1m 2f lst stks (1) sft in Jul beating Arthenus (9-4) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Abdon 3-1 (9-0) Started slowly, soon in touch in last pair, pushed along over 2f out, edged right and not quicken 2f out, ridden and beaten final furlong, 6th of 7, 8 1/4l behind First Sitting (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 2f lst stks (1) gf in May.
Khairaat (IRE) 3-1fav (9-2) Tracked leaders on inside, not clear run and switched left over 2f out, hung right and not quicken inside final 2f, weakened inside final furlong, 13th of 16, 5 1/4l behind Snoano (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f hcp lst (1) gf in Jun.
Murad Khan (FR) 8-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, effort to lead inside final furlong, won at Windsor 1m hcp (2) gd in Jul beating Easy Tiger (8-10) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Fabricate 16-1 (9-8) Towards rear of mid-division, ridden and headway on outer over 2f out, kept on same pace under pressure from over 1f out, never reached leaders, 6th of 16, 4 1/4l behind Dylan Mouth (9-10) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Tha'ir (IRE) 11-4fav (9-5) 9th of 10, 8 1/4l behind Sanshaawes (9-6) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gf in Jan.
Baydar 20-1 (9-9) In touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, never on terms, weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 16, 6 3/4l behind Dylan Mouth (9-10) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Bravery (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden final furlong, no extra inside final furlong, 16th of 20, 8 1/2l behind Ballet Concerto (9-3) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Eye of The Storm (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Steadied start, held up last, headway between horses over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 4th towards finish, not reach leaders, 4th of 6, 1 1/2l behind Mount Logan (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in May.
Eddystone Rock (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Held up mid-division, pushed along and headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, 6th of 20, 2 1/4l behind Ballet Concerto (9-3) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Noble Gift 33-1 (9-9) Ridden and soon 2nd, led over 10f out, headed over 3f out, weakened final 2f, 10th of 11, 35 1/2l behind Gawdawpalin (8-12) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Speed Company (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden in 4th 2f out, no impression final furlong, 5th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Tandem (9-10) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gf in Jul.
Uae Prince (IRE) 13-2 (8-12) Held up in touch, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed towards finish, kept on, 4th of 20, 1l behind Ballet Concerto (9-3) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Garcia 14-1 (8-10) Held up mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 5th of 20, 1 1/4l behind Ballet Concerto (9-3) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Oasis Fantasy (IRE) 6-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, went 4th towards finish, 4th of 7, 8 1/4l behind Mukhayyam (8-13) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Dark Red (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Anythingtoday (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in Jul.
Master Carpenter (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 12th of 20, 5 1/4l behind Ballet Concerto (9-3) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Erik The Red (FR) 16-1 (8-12) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 11th of 20, 4 1/4l behind Ballet Concerto (9-3) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
