keen tracked leaders, ridden to lead narrowly over 2f out, clear with 2nd when edged right over 1f out, ran on
dwelt keen in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, kept on to go 3rd, to much to do
tracked leader, led after 4f, ridden and headed narrowly over 2f out, clear with winner when edged right over 1f out, ran on
led 4f, tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened over 2f out
towards rear, never a factor
dwelt towards rear, ridden 4f out, headway over 1f out, never a factor
held up, headway 5f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
slowly away in rear, weakened over 4f out, tailed off
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
held up, ridden 4f out, switched left to stand side over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Nonrunner
OPERA BUFF scored easily over 1m6f in testing ground at Salisbury last time so should last home over this longer trip. He gets a token vote. Harry Hunt has been in decent form over fences including a second for today's rider while Leighton Aspell rode the winner of this in 2009 and teams up with Minneapolis. Eshtyaaq beat Our Folly, Ampleforth and Sunny Future over 2m1f at Bath recently and Kashgar and Four Nations are others to consider.
Harry Hunt 5-1 (9-13) Held up 4th and last, went 3rd over 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on to press for 2nd inside final furlong, no impression with winner, 3rd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Murcar (9-6) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Spice Fair 16-1 (9-4) Dwelt keen in rear, some headway 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 13, 11l behind Ballinderry Boy (8-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (3) sft.
Opera Buff 14-1 (9-3) Made all, remained on far side when race split over 5f out, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) hvy beating Abundantly (9-9) by 10l, 10 ran.
Sunny Future (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Soon led, ridden and edged left 2f out, soon headed, weakened final furlong, 10th of 13, 26l behind Ballinderry Boy (8-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (3) sft.
Mediterranean Sea (IRE) 11-8fav (9-7) In rear, headway over 2f out on outer, weakened over 1f out, last of 4, 28l behind Underwritten (8-9) at Yarmouth 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.
Our Folly 11-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, finished well, not reach leaders, 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Eshtyaaq (8-11) at Bath 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Four Nations (USA) 22-1 (9-9) Held up in last pair, headway on outside over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Mister Fizz (9-2) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Sep.
Minneapolis 25-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, went far side 4f out, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 10, 16l behind Aldwick Bay (9-3) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in May '12.
Ampleforth 7-1 (8-11) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Eshtyaaq (8-11) at Bath 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Freddy Q (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) In touch, headway 3f out, effort and ridden towards inside well over 1f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 5th of 12, 10l behind Omar Khayyam (9-11) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f app hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sep.
Guards Chapel 10-1 (9-12) Held up behind, outpaced over 3f out, kept on under pressure from over 1f out, never reached leaders, 5th of 10, 4l behind Laser Blazer (10-0) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Aug.
Bridgehampton 5-1 (9-8) Held up towards rear, steady headway on outside over 3f out, never reached leaders and no impression final furlong, 9th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Royal Signaller (9-3) at Bath 1m 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sep.
Kashgar 10-1 (9-4) Held up in last pair, came wide on bend over 3f out, headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never quite going pace to reach leaders, 5th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Royal Signaller (9-3) at Bath 1m 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sep.
Meetings Man (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Pushed along leaving stalls, in rear, ridden over 2f out, plugged on final furlong, no chance, 8th of 13, 6l behind Uphold (9-6) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Eshtyaaq 8-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Bath 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Chapter Five (8-6) by nk, 13 ran.
Ethics Girl (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to get competitive and no impression inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Royal Signaller (9-3) at Bath 1m 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sep.
