towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
towards rear, headway after 2f to track leaders, ridden over 2f out, close up over 1f out, soon one pace
led, headed over 1f out, edged right and weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, in rear, headway over 1f out, chased clear winner well inside final furlong
in touch, headway on inside over 1f out, shaken up to lead soon after, ran on, edged right close home
tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, soon held
ZAHAM and Wasan both have plenty to prove having both flopped in first-time blinkers last time out but we will side with the highest-rated of the pair which is Zaham to bounce back to form. A course winner over a mile, the selection has relatively few miles on the clock. He was quite well-fancied on his reappearance at Ascot but didn't take to the blinkers, and they are discarded today. Richard Hills is reunited with this son of Silver Hawk and they can resume winning ways, with the drop in trip also likely to suit. Art Deco returns from two years on the sidelines; this former Group Three winner evidently has the ability but such a long absence must be of some concern. Fairmile ran above expectations last time out at Chester, Wasan has winning course form and is better than he showed last time, whilst Alarazi's spell hurdling this year didn't quite go to plan and two runs on the flat since have been nothing special. The Godolphin runner Birbone makes his UK debut this afternoon; formerly trained in France, the market is needed for some clues to his chance today. This looks a tricky race for punters but we will side with Zaham.
Art Deco (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Raced in 4th, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 6, 22l behind Red Rocks (9-7) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr '07.
Alarazi (IRE) 40-1 (9-9) Led until over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 23, 8l behind Extraterrestrial (8-12) at Newbury 1m hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Birbone (FR) (8-11) 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind Virtual (8-11) at Maisons-laffitte(FR) 1m 1f stk sft in Oct.
Fairmile 40-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway on inside under pressure over 1f out, close 4th inside final furlong, unable to quicken when squeezed out on rails towards finish, 4th of 9, 2l behind Doctor Fremantle (9-0) at Chester 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Wasan 12-1 (8-12) Held up, never dangerous, 13th of 15, 26l behind Yamal (9-1) at York 1m (1) gd.
Zaham (USA) 4-1 (8-12) Led until 3f out, soon beaten, last of 6, 31l behind Duncan (8-12) at Ascot 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gf.