held up last, some late minor headway into 4th final furlong, never involved
pulled hard, tracked leader, chased winner approaching final 2f, no impression when hung right bumped and lost 2nd inside final 2f, weakened final furlong
tracked leading pair, challenged on outside 3f out, led over 2f out and committed for home, ridden clear inside final furlong, stayed on strongly
tracked leading trio on inside, angled out over 2f out, went 2nd and hung right inside final 2f, ridden and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, no chance with winner
led until over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened
slowly into stride, ran in snatches in 5th, headway on outside over 2f out, soon ridden, went modest 3rd inside final 2f, kept on inside final furlong, no chance with winner
held up in last pair, effort on outside over 2f out, soon no headway
Sir Michael Stoute has won this for the past two years and the yard can do little wrong at present so MIRAGE DANCER, who hasn't had much racing for his age and has won at Listed level around here, gets the nod after just failing to overhaul Best Solution in a Group 2 at Newmarket. Red Verdon ran a superb race when runner-up to Stoute's Crystal Ocean in the Hardwicke and would have to be a threat on that form while Eminent, last year's Derby fourth, showed signs of a revival last time and won a Group 2 at Deauville around this time a year ago. Second Step finished runner-up in this last year behind Poet's Voice and has won twice subsequently while none of the remainder can be completely dismissed in a competitive renewal.
Blakeney Point 14-1 (9-10) Slowly away in rear, wide and headway over 2f out, kept on one pace one pace final furlong, 5th of 16, 4 3/4l behind Rainbow Rebel (8-11) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Eminent (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, lost place well over 1f out, 6th of 8, 3 3/4l behind Beat The Bank (9-1) at Ascot 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Mirage Dancer 2-1fav (9-6) Led, ridden and headed entering final 2f, pressed winner, driven and unable to quicken towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Best Solution (9-6) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Red Verdon (USA) 33-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, tracked leading trio on inside, closer in 3rd 8f out, switched left over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, went 2nd and edged right inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Crystal Ocean (9-1) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Scotland (GER) 11-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, driven over 2f out, soon hung left, pressing leaders inside final furlong, held final 75 yards, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Dylan Mouth (9-0) at York 1m 6f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Second Step (IRE) 8-15fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, drew clear inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stks (1) gf in Jun beating Dylan Mouth (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 4 ran.
Top Tug (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Never better than mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 15th of 20, 27l behind Withhold (9-1) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) pol in Jun.
