mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, not clear run over 1f out or inside final furlong, ran on final 100 yards, nearest finish
mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, not much room 2f out, never on terms
held up in touch, effort 3f out, one pace and no impression inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, no extra final 100 yards
held up in rear, pushed along over 4f out, well beaten over 1f out
steadied leaving stalls, mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, stayed on same pace, not able to trouble leaders
mid-division, not clear run and lost place over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, weaved through and ran on inside final furlong, never nearer
soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, lost place over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened rapidly final 100 yards
prominent, driven over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, driven over 2f out, no impression
always towards rear
mid-division, effort over 3f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
led early, tracked leader, led over 2f out, driven and headed inside final furlong, held close home
tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, not much room briefly 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
slowly into stride, held up in mid-division, ridden on outside over 2f out, edged left and no extra inside final furlong
held up in rear, took keen hold, not clear run 2f out, no impression
A long-time handicap of great standing with the weights headed by Royal Ascot winner Opinion. Sir Michael Stoute's decisive winner of the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes remains relatively lightly-raced for a four-year-old and is expected to deliver an excellent account in what is probably a slightly easier assignment despite his not inconsiderable burden. Strictly Silver tries 12f for the first time whilst Mark Johnston fires no less than five darts at the board but it's anyone's guess who'll emerge as best of the quintet. It is interesting not to see Silvestre De Sousa on one of the Johnston five so we'll take the hint and go along with the Brazilian on FRANCISCAN. After being dramatically out of form since a York success over a year ago, the five-year-old was back to form last month when just failing with a late thrust to land the Cumberland Plate. He could well have been targeted at this by Luca Cumani who has trained three of the last nine winners of this contest. Roman Flight is hard to assess but is on a tempting mark and Chris Hayes is an eye-catching booking.
Opinion (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Tracked leading pair, led approaching final 2f, driven over 1f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, won at Royal Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun beating Stencive (9-3) by 2l, 16 ran.
Sir Graham Wade (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Led 10f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 6th of 16, 8l behind Opinion (9-0) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Strictly Silver (IRE) 11-1 (9-4) Keen tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Nabucco (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Jun.
Beaumont's Party (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Took keen hold in mid-division, some headway on outside when driven and hung right from inside final 2f, one pace and no impression over 1f out, 10th of 16, 10l behind Opinion (9-0) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Communicator 20-1 (9-1) Took keen hold towards rear, some headway over 1f out, no impression and beaten when hampered inside final furlong, 11th of 16, 14l behind Opinion (9-0) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Highland Castle 12-1 (8-13) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, pushed along making some headway when hampered approaching final 2f, struggling after, 12th of 16, 15l behind Opinion (9-0) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Hanoverian Baron 25-1 (8-12) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, ridden and no progress when hung right final 2f, 14th of 16, 22l behind Opinion (9-0) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Scatter Dice (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden and effort on inside over 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure final furlong, no impression, 5th of 18, 2 3/4l behind Tominator (9-10) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) gs in Jun.
Quixote 9-1 (9-1) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Montaser (9-7) at York 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Fennell Bay (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) Made all, hard driven over 2f out, strongly challenged inside final furlong, stayed on gamely, won at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jun beating Pintrada (8-9) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Angel Gabrial (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Held up, took keen hold, pushed along 4f out, well beaten over 1f out, last of 10, 26l behind Highland Castle (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Haylaman (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never on terms, 4th of 9, 6l behind Rawaki (8-8) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Jun.
Franciscan 16-1 (9-7) Held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 17, hd behind Warlu Way (9-7) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.
Tepmokea (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Held up in touch, headway on inside to 3rd 3f out, not much room and switched right inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 12, 10l behind Sheikhzayedroad (9-7) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Jun.
Star Lahib (IRE) 11-4 (9-7) Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, chased winner entering final furlong, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Maven (9-2) at Ayr 1m 2f flls hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jun.
Icebuster 9-2 (9-3) Steadied start, took keen hold in last pair, headway on wide outside over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, held when edged left close home, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Al Saham (9-4) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Jun.
Roman Flight (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, lost place over 2f out, weakened and eased 1f out, 16th of 19, 27l behind Well Sharp (9-10) at Royal Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Jun.
