with leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed 1f out, soon weakened
held up in touch, ridden to lead 1f out, kept on well
tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, held up, switched right and ridden 2f out, soon headway, not quicken inside final furlong
in rear and outpaced, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on well towards finish
pushed along towards rear, going well when not much room over 2f out until 1f out, kept on
mid-division, not much room over 2f out and again over 1f out, one pace
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
with leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
Desert Commander returns to the scene of his last win with first-time blinkers hoping to work the oracle, however he cannot be a betting proposition and so the vote goes to My Gacho ahead of Yorkshire Blue. The last-named certainly knows how to win having scored 11 times in 54 races. That is a fine record and as he seems to handle any ground, Jim Goldie's eight-year-old must be a danger although he normally needs more than one warm-up race before he hits top stride. Desert Commander is back below a winning mark but has been out of form of late so blinkers will need to work the oracle, whilst Trojan Flight won last time out but has more on his plate here. Steel Blue is a course and distance winner and looks well-handicapped (won off 7lb higher), however the one to side with could be My Gacho. Effective under these conditions, David Barron's gelding seems to have responded well to a change to blinkers from the normal visor sported. As long as he doesn't wear himself out by getting involved in a protracted duel for the lead, he looks sure to run another big race and give punters a run for their money. He gets the nomination.
Charles Darwin (IRE) 22-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Commando Scott (8-4) at Newmarket 6f hcap (2) gs in May.
Desert Commander (IRE) 12-1 (8-5) Towards rear, never dangerous, 12th of 13, 6l behind Wyatt Earp (8-8) at York 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in May.
My Gacho (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) With leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, just held on, won at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May beating Bahamian Pirate (9-7) by a hd, 13 ran.
Gallery Girl (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) In touch, pushed along halfway, ridden 2f out, chased winner final furlong, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Angus Newz (9-11) at Ripon 6f fll hcp (3) gd in May.
Yorkshire Blue 20-1 (8-4) Held up, never dangerous, 13th of 21, 10l behind Zidane (8-12) at Ascot 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in May.
Trojan Flight 11-2 (9-2) Mid-division, headway 2f out, switched left over 1f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May beating Choysia (8-7) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Countdown 12-1 (8-1) Held up, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 5th of 13, 4l behind Trafalgar Square (8-9) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in May.
Steel Blue 11-2 (8-6) In touch, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 13, nk behind My Gacho (8-11) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May.
Lake Chini (IRE) 28-1 (8-4) Led 2f, remained with leader, every chance over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 13, nk behind My Gacho (8-11) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May.
