took keen hold, always behind
stumbled leaving stalls, towards rear, headway between horses over 2f out, strong run to lead inside final furlong, soon clear, driven out
led until headed 3f out, kept on until weakened from 2f out
last and outpaced 2 furlongs, plenty to do 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, nearest finish
tracked leader, led 3f out to over 1f out, kept on under pressure
mid-division, ridden over 2f out and not much room, short of room over 1f out, no chance after, weakened final furlong
towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong not reached leaders
close up 4th, ridden to lead over 1f out, no extra when headed inside final fulrong, soon outpaced by winner
tracked leaders, effort 2f out, not quickend and one pace from over 1f out
steadied start, held up behind, headway to chase leaders 2f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, soon one pace
held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, no headway, never nearer
in touch to 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden to challenege over 1f out, every chance soon afterwards, not quickend inside final furlong
raced keanly in mid-division, ridden and outpaced 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Godolphin may be able to land this valuable handicap with Gold Sovereign, Pinpoint and Lang Shining are likely dangers. Three year olds have gone close a couple of times in the last ten years but have only provided one winner in that period and Desert Deer went on to win a Group 2 the following season. We can overlook the claims of Fifteen Love and Masaalek therefore and concentrate on the older horses. Saeed bin Suroor's record in handicaps is pretty good and he actually shows a level stakes profit with his older horses over the past five seasons. The form of his maiden win has worked out well enough and he returned an impressive winner of a Redcar handicap last time; the handicapper hasn't taken any chances at any stage but he's an exciting prospect who looks capable of going on to better things. Lang Shining failed to give his running at Royal Ascot but not every horse was suited by the conditions that prevailed that week. He's turned out again quickly and should be respected, particularly if there's some cut in the ground. Pinpoint has been racing over further of late but he's a three time winner at this trip and his stamina should be an asset in this contest. A big weight is no barrier to success in this contest, besides which he was only beaten a short-head by Supaseus from this mark last season. Ideally, he'd prefer some rain but he acts well enough on fast ground and we expect him to be there or thereabouts but will side with the unexposed Gold Sovereign.
Pinpoint (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Held up, headway over 1f out, no extra close home, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Supaseus (8-11) at Royal Ascot 1m 2f lst hcp (1) frm in Jun.
Lovelace 20-1 (9-9) Held up in rear far side, good headway 3f out, ridden to lead that group 2f out, headed 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 28, 5l behind Regal Parade (8-6) at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 0-105 (2) frm in Jun.
Celtic Sultan (IRE) 20-1 (9-8) Led stands' side group and overall leader, stayed on well until headed over 1f out, faded final furlong, 7th of 28, 4l behind Regal Parade (8-6) at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 0-105 (2) frm in Jun.
Lang Shining (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Always in rear group, never a factor, 21st of 29, 28l behind Mr Aviator (9-5) at Royal Ascot 1m hcap (2) gf in Jun.
Dubai's Touch 40-1 (9-7) Prominent, ridden and every chance 3f out, weakened quickly 2f out, 17th of 29, 21l behind Mr Aviator (9-5) at Royal Ascot 1m hcap (2) gf in Jun.
Jack Junior (USA) 10-11fav (9-12) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, driven out close home, won at Haydock 1m mdn stk (5) gd in Jun beating Istiqdaam (9-2) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Flipando (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Held up, headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 10, 3l behind Kingsdale Orion (8-3) at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Jun.
Ace of Hearts 11-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, joined over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Fondled (8-9) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gs in May.
Unshakable (IRE) 11-1 (8-8) In touch, 6th straight, headway 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on strongly, not quite get up, 2nd of 14, nk behind Little White Lie (8-13) at Epsom 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Jun.
Fifteen Love (USA) 28-1 (8-10) Raced stand's side, slowly into stride, held up in rear, good headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, driven out and held on well, won at Royal Ascot 1m 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun beating Masaalek (8-11) by 1/2l, 28 ran.
Kavachi (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Started slowly, towards rear, steady headway 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 29, 1 1/2l behind Mr Aviator (9-5) at Royal Ascot 1m hcap (2) gf in Jun.
Farley Star 6-1 (9-6) Held up, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on under pressure, won at Haydock 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jun beating Obezyana (8-10) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Prince of Light (IRE) 28-1 (8-12) Held up stands' side, headway to chase leaders 3f out, every chance over 2f out, not quicken, weakened 2f out, 14th of 28, 8l behind Regal Parade (8-6) at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 0-105 (2) frm in Jun.
Masaalek 20-1 (8-11) Raced far side, held up, good headway 2f out, ridden to lead that group over 1f out, ran on well, just held by winner stand's side, 2nd of 28, 1/2l behind Fifteen Love (8-10) at Royal Ascot 1m 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Bahar Shumaal (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Towards rear, ridden 4f out, never on terms, 5th of 6, 6l behind Dunelight (9-4) at Windsor 1m lst stk (1) gf in Jun.
Gold Sovereign (IRE) Evensfav (10-0) Held up in rear, headway 2f out, shaken up to lead approaching final furlong, ran on, won at Redcar 1m hcap (3) gf in Jun beating Ansells Pride (9-10) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Huzzah (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Held up and keen, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 10th of 13, 12l behind Staying On (9-1) at Haydock 1m 3yo hcp (2) gf in May.
