held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden and effort over 2f out, not much room briefly just over 1f out, eased once beaten inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong
took keen hold and held up, switched left and headway over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on final furlong
very slowly away, held up, ridden over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, not trouble leaders
held up in touch, ridden and effort over 2f out, no impression inside final furlong
tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden 1f out, stayed on gamely
took keen hold, tracked leaders, pushed along from 4f out, weakened well over 1f out
Valance can outstay the opposition, with Eastborough, Mumbling and Shortbread seen as the main dangers. Valance beat some useful sorts in the Cumberland Plate, and this useful dual-purpose performer will be hard to pass back over a trip that suits him. Charlie Egerton's charge can successfully defy a rise in the weights to see off the Brendan Powell pair, Eastborough and Mumbling. The latter is a real summer horse who will line up fresh after a break, and he too will benefit from the step up in trip. Stablemate Eastborough shows most of his best form on the all-weather and does not make as much appeal, but topweight Highland Games is well weighted compared to the start of the year, and John Dunlop's three-year-old Shortbread has scope off his light weight. For the winner though we return to Valance who has stamina aplenty.
Highland Games (IRE) 33-1 (9-12) Held up, never near leaders, 18th of 20, 13l behind Afrad (9-7) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (3) gs.
Valance (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Raced keenly, always prominent, driven 3f out, ridden and stayed on to lead entering final furlong, held on towards finish, won at Carlisle 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun beating Nessen Dorma (9-10) by a nk, 17 ran.
Serbelloni 8-1 (9-13) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, kept on from over 1f out, never dangerous, 4th of 11, 8l behind Cristoforo (10-0) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp (4) gd.
Eastborough (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Made all, pressed from 3f out, ran on strongly final 2f, driven out, won at Lingfield 1m 3f hcp (4) gd beating Jack of Trumps (10-0) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Malarkey 12-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, lost place over 6f out, never dangerous after, 7th of 11, 14l behind Fortune Island (9-1) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) gs.
Screenplay 12-1 (8-13) Prominent, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and one pace final 2f, 6th of 20, 10l behind Vicars Destiny (9-6) at York 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in May.
Mumbling (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Held up in last pair, pushed along 4f out, effort on outside to chase leaders 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Sian Thomas (9-2) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Shortbread 4-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, late headway approaching 2f out, never nearer, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Heathcote (8-11) at Chepstow 1m 4f mdn stk (5) gs in Jun.
