held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, staying on when hampered just over 1f out, kept on for hand riding after, eased when held towards finish
held up towards rear, not clearest of runs from over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, driven and stayed on to lead final 50 yards
held up well in rear, ridden and headway on outside over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, went 2nd post, not quite able to reach winner
took keen hold, mid-division on inside, headway from 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on, headed near finish, lost 2nd post
took keen hold, wide in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
raced freely, led, pressed from 3f out, kept narrow advantage until headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
took keen hold, chased leaders on outside, ridden over 2f out, hung right well over 1f out, weakened soon after
in touch, headway 3f out, hampered over 2f out, soon hung right to inside rail, pulled out and driven when rider dropped whip just over 1f out, pushed along and kept on same pace after
chased leading pair, ridden over 3f out, still pressing leaders 2f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge
chased leader, challenged 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened rapidly
held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, stayed on towards finish, never in contention
started very slowly, well in rear, effort on inside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish
FIREBACK is still on the upgrade and can be a force to be reckoned with in this company. Rakaan was not a match for the selection when they met at Lingfield in May, so it might be down to Cansili Star, Venutius and Lowdown to scrap it out as the best of the rest. The last named makes a quick reappearance after a disappointing effort against his elders at York last weekend - the Shamardal colt had previously been very progressive, so may be capable of bouncing back if the outing doesn't come around too quickly. His trainer, Mark Johnston also sends out Waveband and Glen Shiel, who are also returning within a few days of defeats in open-age contests. So it will be interesting to see how they all fare back against their own generation. Venutius got off the mark on turf when landing a similar handicap at Haydock last month, so is respected on the pick of his form. Whether he will be suited by dropping back a furlong in trip is debatable, though. Cansili Star, on the other hand, is ideally suited by this intermediate distance and merits serious consideration at a track that holds no fears for him. However, Fireback is also a versatile performer and, as he comes here on the back of a series of excellent performances, the Andrew Balding-trained colt is fancied as a lively option here - especially if he is capable of running up to the form that saw him perform with such credit to finish a respectable ninth (of 27) in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Freeforaday (USA) 20-1 (8-13) Led center group until over 4f out, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, last of 19, 21l behind St Moritz (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Citrus Star (USA) 12-1 (9-9) Hampered start, in rear, behind halfway, headway entering final furlong, ran on near finish, never a threat, 4th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Cansili Star (8-9) at Epsom Downs 7f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Jun.
Rakaan (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Held up, headway over 1f out, every chance entering final furlong, led briefly inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Start Right (8-10) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Gene Autry (USA) 10-1 (8-9) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, stayed on to go 3rd near finish, 3rd of 20, 1 1/4l behind Fireback (8-1) at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Cansili Star 13-8fav (9-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, never able to reach winner, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Below Zero (9-1) at Chester 7f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
Venutius 11-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged left and headed post, 2nd of 15, shd behind Suited And Booted (9-6) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Fireback 12-1 (8-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf beating Bagamoyo (8-13) by 3/4l, 20 ran.
Gunner Lindley (IRE) 7-2 (9-1) Prominent, pushed along 4f out, outpaced from 3f out, no impression, 4th of 6, 9l behind Decorative (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Jun.
Glen Shiel (USA) 7-1 (9-7) Towards rear, pushed along and in rear over 2f out, ridden and good headway over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Stevie Gee (8-6) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Waveband 13-2 (8-12) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed and hung left inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Miss Zooter (9-2) at Newmarket 7f fll hcp (2) gf.
She's A Character 16-1 (8-11) Steadied start, held up in 6th, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 24l behind Navajo Chief (9-3) at Haydock 7f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gs in May.
Stefanki (IRE) 1-3fav (9-12) Slowly away, held up in 4th off the pace, headway on outside over 2f out, led going well just over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner final 110 yards, 2nd of 5, hd behind Grand Zafeen (9-5) at Folkestone 6f 3yo app hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Lowdown (IRE) 6-1fav (9-6) Mid-division, took closer order halfway, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 20, 11l behind Hawkeyethenoo (9-0) at York 6f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Rio Mist 7-2 (8-6) Close up, ridden 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 4th of 7, 5l behind Bounty Box (8-12) at Newmarket 6f flls cond stks (3) gf in Jun.
