held up towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway just inside final furlong, not trouble leaders
held up in rear, wide and headway over 3f out, pushed along 2f out, soon weakened
keen led 2f, remained prominent under stand side rail, ridden to lead entering final furlong, ran on
keen close up, headway 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong
led after 2f, edged left 2f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, not trouble leaders
Unbeaten on the all-weather, a chance is taken YURI GAGARIN handles the underfoot conditions. John Gosden’s charge defied a penalty to land the odds over 1m3f at Kempton with the minimum of fuss and there looks more to come now handicapping. Future Investment has won with some cut in the ground and will have come on for last month’s reappearance but Medal Winner struggled in soft going at Ascot last time and Country is an unknown on the surface. It was soft going when Fantastic Blue beat Matewan a short-head in a lower grade on the Rowley course here last month and the latter gets a change of headgear while Sherpa Trial is another making his handicap debut having only raced on the all-weather so far.
Medal Winner (FR) 9-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, not much room and lost place over 8f out, effort over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 9l behind Scarlet Dragon (9-2) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gs in Jun.
Yuri Gagarin 4-5fav (10-3) Tracked leader, led going well 2f out, pushed clear final furlong, easily, won at Kempton 1m 3f stks (5) pol in Jun beating Cityzen Serg (8-10) by 3l, 10 ran.
Country 2-1fav (9-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 4 1/4l behind Babbo's Boy (9-4) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in Jun.
Future Investment 3-1fav (8-12) Tracked leaders, hung left and went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden and no impression over 1f out, no chance with winner but kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 10, 4 1/4l behind Laafy (8-12) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Frontispiece 9-1 (10-0) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 11, 22 1/2l behind Point In Time (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Fantastic Blue 6-1 (9-6) Awkwardly away, soon led, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, still every chance inside final furlong, driven to lead final stride, won at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jun beating Matewan (9-4) by shd, 5 ran.
My Boy Sepoy 8-1 (9-5) Held up in last trio, headway on inside over 2f out, plugged on in 3rd final furlong, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Palavecino (9-4) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Matewan (IRE) 2-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, driven to lead narrowly inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 5, shd behind Fantastic Blue (9-6) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jun.
Sherpa Trail (USA) 8-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 14, 6 3/4l behind Swiss Cheer (9-5) at Kempton 1m hcp (4) pol in Feb.
