raced wide early, chased leaders, weakened final furlong
started very slowly, looked reluctant and always behind
chased leader when took him bit wide away from inside in home straight, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed final 100 yards, kept on
held up in 6th, headway chasing leaders and switched right 2f out, strong challenge inside final furlong, ridden and stayed on to lead final 10 yards
slowly into stride, off the pace and always towards rear
always behind, never a factor, tailed off
never clear the mid-division
chased leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
led and came wide in home straight, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra in 3rd
NonRunner
Sweet Reward won this in 2021 and Lord Protector came out best in last year’s renewal. The former arrives in the better form having gone close at Newbury when ahead of subsequent Windsor winner Youthful King. The latter is penalised and Spirit Of The Bay has been raised 5lb for scoring at Haydock. Paradias still looks high enough in the weights while Nobel returned a beaten favourite in a higher grade at York behind ARAMAIC. A progressive three-year-old, the latter missed the whole of last year but should have come on for that outing on the Knavesmire and make a bold bid in this.
Aramaic (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) Held up rear of mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 2 3/4l behind Marhaba The Champ (8-13) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in May.
Crystal Delight 11-2 (8-11) Raced wide, track leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 8th of 15, 3 1/4l behind Scampi (8-7) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in May.
Lord Protector (GER) 33-1 (9-0) Wore hood to post, raced wide in mid-division, outpaced and towards rear turning in, never dangerous after, 8th of 11, 14 1/4l behind Cadillac (9-11) at Epsom 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Paradias (GER) 3-1 (9-9) Towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on, never threatened, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Peace Man (9-5) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in May.
Spirit Of The Bay (IRE) 17-2 (9-6) Held up in last, headway 2f out, soon pushed along to challenge, led over 1f out, pushed out inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Haydock 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in May beating Maghlaak (9-10) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Spinaround (IRE) 10-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened well over 1f out, 5th of 7, 8 3/4l behind Peace Man (9-5) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in May.
Fast Steps (IRE) 28-1 (9-5) Slowly away, rear mid-division, ridden 2f out, plugged on, never a danger, 11th of 19, 8 3/4l behind Mustazeed (9-4) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in May.
Sweet Reward (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Front mid-division, headway 3f out, pushed along and led 2f out, ridden 1f out and strongly challenged, edged left, headed narrowly final 110 yards, ran on gamely, just held, 2nd of 19, shd behind Mustazeed (9-4) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in May.
Youthful King 3-1 (9-2) Made all, came clear final 2f, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Jun beating Tuxedo Junction (9-8) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Nobel (IRE) 7-2fav (8-13) Prominent, outpaced over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 13, 8 1/4l behind Marhaba The Champ (8-13) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in May.
