led, pushed along and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in 6th, headway far side of group chasing leaders 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, never going pace of winner
pulled hard and always in rear
restless in stalls and fly-jumped start, pulled hard and soon tracked leader, led briefly over 1f out, hung left and weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders going well, smooth headway to lead over 1f out, wandered entering final furlong, soon straightened and quickened on well
held up in 5th, pushed along near side of group 3f out, weakened over 2f out
steadied start, held up in last pair and never a factor
tracked leaders near side of group, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong
Too Darn Hot’s absence has taken a bit of gloss off this but has left an open-looking race. BOITRON will probably start favourite, despite surrendering his unbeaten record in a Group 1 at Longchamp on Arc day. However, there appeared to be no fluke about Mohaather’s win in this grade here in October, despite being allowed to start at 33/1. He holds Almufti on that form and probably has more to offer. Hello Youmzain steps up a furlong but won a Group 2 at Maisons-Laffitte in the autumn and Great Scot was fifth in the Futurity at Doncaster on his final start of last year. Magic J cost a whopping $950,000 as a yearling and made a winning start at Yarmouth so is worth a try in this grade with the hat-trick seeking No Nonsense another to consider.
Boitron (FR) (8-13) 4th of 6, 2 3/4l behind Royal Marine (8-13) at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 gs in Oct.
Great Scot 14-1 (9-1) In rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, slightly hampered and not quicken towards finish, 5th of 11, 1 1/4l behind Magna Grecia (9-1) at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Oct.
He'zanarab (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Towards rear centre, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 17th of 20, 12l behind Red Balloons (8-6) at York 6f stks (2) gf in Aug.
Hello Youmzain (FR) (9-2) won at Maisons-Laffitte 6f Grp 2 stks in Oct beating Queen Of Bermuda (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Mohaather 33-1 (9-0) Steadied start, held up in rear, switched left and headway far side of group 2f out, went 2nd just over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on strongly and soon clear, won at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Oct beating Azano (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
No Nonsense 12-1 (9-2) Switched right start, in touch in rear, pushed along over 2f out, headway entering final furlong, stayed on to lead final strides, won at Kempton 6f stks (2) pol in Jan beating James Street (9-2) by shd, 7 ran.
Taylormade 50-1 (9-3) In touch in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 5, 5 1/4l behind Manuela De Vega (8-12) at Pontefract 1m lst stks (1) gs in Oct.
Urban Icon 6-5fav (9-8) Made all, pushed along over 1f out, ran on, won at Salisbury 6f stks (4) gf in Jun beating Even Keel (9-0) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Almufti 9-1 (9-0) Raced keenly, tracked leader until inside final 2f, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 8, 6 1/2l behind Mohaather (9-0) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Oct.
Magic J (USA) 7-4 (9-2) Dwelt, in touch, took closer order 2f out, soon driven to challenge, quickened to lead inside final furlong, edged left, driven out, won at Yarmouth 6f stks (4) gf in Sep beating Swindler (9-2) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
