held up im mid-division, ridden and edged right 2f out, soon beaten
took keen hold in mid-division, pushed along 2f out, no impression when edged right well over 1f out
held up in mid-divison, steady headway on outside from 3f out, staying on but hanging right from over 2f out, led inside final 2f, continued to hang right, stayed on gamely under pressure
took keen hold, close up, ridden 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 7f out, keeping on same pace when slightly hampered over 1f out, no impression when lost 3rd final 100 yards
held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to trouble leaders
led at sensible pace, increased tempo over 4f out, strongly pressed 2f out, headed well over 1f out, no extra final furlong
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway on inside and squeezing through narrow gap when hampered inside final 2f, stayed on well inside final furlong, nearest finish
in touch, hard ridden 3f out, not much room near rail, when weakening just inside final 2f
chased leader until pushed along and dropped to 3rd 7f out, hard ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace after
held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, badly hampered towards inside just inside final 2f, switched left, ridden and no impression soon after
started slowly, in rear, ridden on outside 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no danger
behid, hard ridden 2f out, headway and hung right over 1f out, strong run to 3rd final 100 yards, not able to reach leading duo
in touch, effort over 2f out, chased winner well over 1f out, soon challenging, every chance when carried right, no extra and held towards finish
held up in rear, hard ridden and struggling over 4f out, eased when no chance final furlong
Frankie may have elected to ride Yamal but we're keen on Godolphin's apparent second-string ROMAN REPUBLIC here; Australia Day and Tartan Gunna head a lengthy list of dangers. Our selection has been off the track for some 144 days but he won on his first start of 2009 and ran a cracking race on his first start for Godolphin in February, having been absent for over six months previously. Indications are then that he's best caught fresh and his last effort in the UK resulted in a fine course and distance success off 94; we're hopeful he can repeat the trick off this 5lb higher mark and trends followers may also note that stall eight has provided two of the last eight winners of this. Yamal tries the trip for the first time but found very little for pressure at Doncaster when running in the visor and his attitude has to be some concern. In fairness to the horse he's proved consistent over the years and has won at Goodwood, but giving weight away to these won't be easy. Australia Day can be hard to pass when on-song and arrives on the back of a career-best hurdles performance. He was well beaten off 98 in this last year though and his best form on the level has come at Sandown. Mark Johnston has trained two of the last four winners but doesn't look to have an outstanding candidate, with Tartan Gunna just about the pick. Joe Fanning's mount has work to do with Australia Day on their Sandown meeting but plenty went against him that day and he is one from one here so merits respect. Fallon rides Tartan Gigha again and the pair are unbeaten together but he's looked in the grip of the handicapper since that most recent success at Epsom while Johnston's string is completed by Submariner who is unexposed and should benefit for dropping back in trip. Jo'burg isn't badly treated on old form and enters calculations alongside Almiqdaad who ran better than the bare form last time, while South Cape and Moynahan both act well here so can't be ruled out and Satwa Moon remains progressive. A very tough opener, but one that can go to Roman Republic.
Yamal (IRE) 5-6fav (8-9) Tracked leader, ridden 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Cesare (8-9) at Doncaster 1m stks (3) gf.
Tartan Gigha (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Always rear division, struggling when hung left and eased over 1f out, 15th of 17, 21l behind Black Spirit (8-8) at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gf.
Indian Days 20-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, outpaced over 3f out, headway over 2f out, ran on, never on terms, 7th of 19, 6l behind Wigmore Hall (8-2) at York 1m 2f hcap (2) gf.
Roman Republic (FR) 6-4fav (8-12) 9th of 12, 8l behind Kal Barg (8-12) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f hcap in Mar.
Almiqdaad 10-1 (9-0) Took keen hold, led, clear over 6f out, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra and lost 2 places well inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 10l behind Dangerous Midge (8-10) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (4yo+) (2) gf.
December Draw (IRE) 66-1 (8-13) Raced far side, held up in mid-division, headway and driven over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 9th of 29, 7l behind Invisible Man (8-9) at Royal Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Australia Day (IRE) 5-1 (9-12) Led, quickened tempo halfway, reduced lead 3f out, strongly pessed 2f out, headed over 1f out, held when hampered on rail 150 yards out, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Verdant (8-10) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Tartan Gunna 5-1 (9-8) Started very slowly, held up last, keeping on one pace and no chance when short of room inside final furling, 5th of 7, 8l behind Verdant (8-10) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Gaily Noble (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Held up in last quartet, headway over 1f out, switched right just over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd post, not pace of leading duo, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Mahadee (9-5) at Salisbury 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
Submariner (USA) 11-2 (8-6) Soon tracking leader, lost 2nd over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 14, 12l behind Dangerous Midge (8-10) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (4yo+) (2) gf.
Moynahan (USA) 20-1 (8-11) Towards rear of mid-division on rail, headway on inside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not able to reach leaders, 6th of 17, 6l behind Black Spirit (8-8) at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gf.
Jo'burg (USA) 7-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway on outer over 1f out, ridden to challenge winner inside final furlong, ran on near finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Greylami (10-0) at Ascot 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Satwa Moon (USA) 11-1 (8-13) Intouch, ridden and every chance over 1f out, pressed winner inside final furlong, not quicken near finish, 2nd of 12, hd behind Itlaaq (9-5) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Jun.
Changing The Guard 12-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 4th of 13, 4l behind Emerging Artist (9-5) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Ramona Chase 16-1 (9-3) Dwelt in rear, outpaced over 2f out, headway when switched left entering final furlong, stayed on to go 3rd near finish, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Reve De Nuit (9-6) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
South Cape 3-1 (9-10) Chased leaders, ridden to go 3rd over 2f out, kept on, never dangerous, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Guilded Warrior (9-10) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jun.
