held up in mid-division, closer on outside halfway, pushed along over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
started very slowly, always in rear
keen, chased leaders on outside, every chance 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra towards finish
steadied start, held up in last pair, never a factor
always towards rear, never on terms
chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
led and set decent pace, ridden and headed 2f out, lost 2nd 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, not clear run and switched to inside over 1f out, stayed on in 4th towards finish
steadied start, held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders 2f out, ridden and went 3rd inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge
chased leader and keen, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace
mid-division on inside, pushed along and headway chasing leaders over 2f out, weakening when slightly hampered inside final 2f
chased leaders on outside, 2nd and every chance 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in last trio, never involved
held up towards rear on inside, headway between horses when not clear run and switched right over 1f out, kept on towards finish, not pace to challenge
steadied start, held up towards rear, daring run on inside 2f out, squeezed through over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well
held up towards rear, closer in mid-division on outside 2f out, weakened soon after
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and losing place when hampered on rail over 1f out
always towards rear
Several trainers with more than one runner though MOJITO and Escobar look to have the best chances of their respective yards. The former beat Escobar at Sandown before David O’Meara’s charge won at York last month and is preferred to stablemate and last year’s winner Seniority. It was soft going when Afaak won the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot when narrowly beating Clon Coulis with Vale Of Kent further behind but he’s struggled over further in the John Smith’s Cup at York subsequently while Dark Vision also drops back down in distance with headgear fitted. Beat Le Bon won a valuable handicap over 7f here in May but has something to prove over the trip with Indeed and Game Player making more appeal. History Writer, Zhui Feng, Key Victory and Lush Life all finished behind the selection at Sandown.
Afaak 14-1 (9-12) In touch in 7th, headway near side of group over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to challenge, 5th of 21, 3 3/4l behind Pivoine (9-8) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
So Beloved 16-1 (9-10) In rear centre, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 7th of 17, 2 3/4l behind Vale Of Kent (9-4) at Newmarket 7f (2) gf in Jul.
Mojito (IRE) 4-1fav (9-8) Well away, pulled hard and kept wide early, made virtually all, ridden final furlong, ran on strongly, unchallenged, won at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul beating Escobar (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Key Victory (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, no extra and lost 3rd final strides, 4th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Mojito (9-8) at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Clon Coulis (IRE) 9-4fav (9-0) Steadied start, held up towards rear, headway on outside over 1f out, ridden and ran on towards finish, never going pace to reach leaders, 5th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Exhort (9-0) at Pontefract 1m lst fll stks (1) gf in Jul.
Indeed 3-1fav (10-0) Close up, led over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Newmarket 1m hcp (2) gd in Jul beating Thrave (9-6) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Zhui Feng (IRE) 25-1 (9-8) Chased leaders on outside, went 2nd halfway until inside final 2f, weakened quickly over 1f out, 9th of 13, 5 1/2l behind Mojito (9-8) at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Seniority 6-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, kept on same pace, never able to challenge, 4th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Military Law (8-8) at Newcastle 1m hcp (2) pol in Jun.
Escobar (IRE) 11-4 (10-0) Steadied start, raced keenly, held up in 5th, smooth headway 2f out, 2nd on bit over 1f out, produced to lead final 150 yards, cleverly, won at York 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul beating Rise Hall (9-9) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Vale Of Kent (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Led overall on far side, headed in group over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 13th of 23, 9 1/2l behind Raising Sand (9-7) at Ascot 7f hcp stks (2) gs in Jul.
What's The Story 12-1 (9-4) Raced keenly tracking leaders, effort in centre 2f out, hanging left when switched right over 1f out, ran on in 3rd inside final furlong, not pace of winner, 3rd of 21, 1 3/4l behind Pivoine (9-8) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Original Choice (IRE) 66-1 (9-4) Held up and always towards rear, 19th of 21, 16l behind Pivoine (9-8) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
War Glory (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Held up in touch, hung badly left over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Makzeem (9-4) at Newbury 7f hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Gossiping 10-1 (8-7) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, clear when ridden over 1f out, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Epsom 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in May beating Seniority (9-7) by 5l, 14 ran.
History Writer (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway out wide 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to get involved, 7th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Mojito (9-8) at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Baltic Baron (IRE) 7-2 (10-3) Held up in rear, headway when not clear run over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Irv (8-4) at York 1m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Beat Le Bon (FR) 6-4fav (9-7) Held up in rear, headway on outside and edged left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led post, won at Haydock 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul beating Kimifive (9-6) by ns, 7 ran.
Dark Vision (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, switched right and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 1 3/4l behind Walkinthesand (9-7) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Game Player (IRE) 4-1 (9-4) Mid-division, headway on inside over 2f out, soon not clear run and switched right, ran on into 3rd, never a threat, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Club Wexford (8-4) at Ayr 1m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Lush Life (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, some headway over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 13, 7 1/4l behind Mojito (9-8) at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
