held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakening when not much room 1f out
chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, not paced to challenge
held up towards rear, kept on, not trouble leaders
held up in touch, headway to lead 2f out, soon headed, stayed on inside final furlong
held up in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and stayed on inside final furlong
with leaders, ridden halfway, weakening when short of room approaching final furlong
held up, never trouble leaders
with leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened appraoching final furlong
held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on
chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
with leaders, led over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened
mid-division, effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong
with leaders, ridden halfway, soon weakened
led, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened 2f out
held up in rear, headway and not clear run over 1f out, switched left and stayed on inside final furlong
If you'll pardon the pun Zidane gets the nod here from the bang-in-form yard of James Fanshawe, with Imperial Echo, Easy Air and Binanti also considered. The selection is already a course winner here and is stepped up to 7f for the first time, but on this quick track he has every chance of getting home. Conditions suit and he is on an upward curve so it can pay to follow, particularly if he gets involved in a scrap! Imperial Echo has nothing to prove on the stamina front, coming here on a hat trick after 7f wins at York and Newcastle in the past month. Despite a hike in the weights he has a nice racing weight here and from a yard in form he can go very close. Easy Air ran two lengths second to Sir Gerard in the Britannia last time and drops back in trip. That shouldn't be a major worry, and he loves this ground, so provided he handles the track on his first attempt he can go well from a low draw. Of those at bigger prixes don't discount the ultra consistent Binanti from a decent box in one. He has conditions to suit, rarely runs a bad race although he could just do with a few pounds less. But Zidane can make the step up to 7f a successful one here.
Mine (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Held up in rear far side, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead that group last strides, no chance with stand's side leaders, 8th of 30, 8l behind Cesare (8-8) at Ascot 1m hcap (2) gf in Jun.
Bahiano (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Towards rear, never in contention, 18th of 28, 10l behind Baltic King (9-10) at Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Appalachian Trail (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Held up rear on wide outside, good headway over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 2nd of 27, nk behind Uhoomagoo (8-9) at Ascot 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Another Bottle (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Chased stanbd's side leaders, weakened 3f out, 16th of 18 in group, 27th of 30, 28l behind Cesare (8-8) at Ascot 1m hcap (2) gf in Jun.
Compton's Eleven 16-1 (9-13) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, led entering final furlong, caught close home, 2nd of 15, nk behind Imperial Echo (8-12) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Intrepid Jack 8-1 (9-1) Held up in mid-division, ridden halfway, stayed on final furlong but not reach leaders, 10th of 28, 6l behind Baltic King (9-10) at Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Akona Matata (USA) 16-1 (8-5) Raced near side, held up in rear, headway 2f out, ran on to take 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 30, 2l behind Cesare (8-8) at Ascot 1m hcap (2) gf in Jun.
Marching Song 10-1 (8-13) Dwelt, held up rear, headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, not reach leaders, 8th of 27, 6l behind Uhoomagoo (8-9) at Ascot 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Kostar 12-1 (8-9) In touch, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, edged right under pressure and no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 28, 5l behind Baltic King (9-10) at Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Prince Of Thebes (IRE) 33-1 (8-8) Chased far side leaders, led group over 3f out to over 1f out, weakened, 22nd of 30, 25l behind Cesare (8-8) at Ascot 1m hcap (2) gf in Jun.
Zidane 2-1fav (10-0) Held up in rear, headway and not clear run over 1f out, switched left, ran on to lead inside final furlong, readily, won at Newmarket 6f hcap (4) gf in Jun beating Pick A Nice Name (8-10) by 2l, 15 ran.
Wavertree Warrior (IRE) 5-1co-fav (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final 2f, driven out final furlong, stayed on well, won at Sandown 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun beating Waterside (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Swinbrook (USA) 11-2 (8-12) Held up towards rear on rails, switched left and running on when hampered approaching final furlong, kept on, not recover, 6th of 16, 2l behind One More Round (8-11) at Windsor 6f hcp (2) gf.
Easy Air 14-1 (8-11) Held up near side, ridden and not clear run over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to take 2nd close home, not trouble winner, 2nd of 30, 2l behind Sir Gerard (8-12) at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Malcheek (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed entering final furlong, one pace, 3rd of 15, 3/4l behind Imperial Echo (8-12) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Binanti 8-1 (9-7) Prominent, not clear run 2f out, squeezed through to lead 1f out, soon headed, edged left final furlong, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Paper Talk (9-13) at Newbury 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Traytonic 25-1 (9-6) Raced alone centre and close up, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 15, 8l behind Imperial Echo (8-12) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Pintle 4-1 (9-9) Led, ridden over 1f out, no extra when headed final 25 yards, 2nd of 9, hd behind Bee Stinger (8-11) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Imperial Echo (USA) 7-1 (8-12) Behind, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead close home, won at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gf beating Compton's Eleven (9-13) by a nk, 15 ran.
Moayed 33-1 (8-1) Held up, headway over 3f out, effort over 2f out, no extra and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 27, 7l behind Uhoomagoo (8-9) at Ascot 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
