slowly into stride, always towards rear
slowly into stride, towards rear most of way
held up towards rear, good headway on outside chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, went 2nd and every chance just inside final furlong, no extra, no chance with winner
led 2f, tracked leader, pushed along 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, ridden inside final 2f, weakened soon after
mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, soon lost 2nd, dropped to 4th close home
tracked leaders on inside, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, good headway and switched right inside final 2f, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, plugged on into 3rd close home
held up towards rear, headway on outside and switched right inside final 2f, chased leaders over 1f out, led entering final furlong, soon clear, stayed on well
raced keenly tracking leaders on outside, went 2nd over 2f out, soon every chance, ridden pressing leaders when hung right over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
started slowly, always behind
held up last, some late minor headway, never on terms
slowly into stride, soon mid-division on inside and pushed along at times, weakened 3f out, behind soon after
tracked leader, led 8f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, weakening when hampered inside final 2f, soon behind
towards rear, closer on outside into mid-division 7f out, headway chasing leaders 3f out, ridden and weakening when hung right inside final 2
Songkran is riding the crest of a wave and goes for the four-timer. He has a penalty for last week’s victory at Chepstow but again won with a bit in hand and can’t be ignored in his current mood. Maiden Castle is still relatively unexposed and it will be a surprise if Henry Candy can’t find a race for the son of Nayef this year. Knowing could bounce back to form at any time with a similar comment applying to Champs De Reves but conditions might be too quick for Blue Cup and Snow Ocean. HIGH COMMISSIONER (NAP) clearly didn’t stay 1m6f at Salisbury. He gets cheekpieces here and, with Cieren Fallon taking over the reins, gets one more chance.
High Commissioner (IRE) 3-1fav (9-9) Led, joined 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, chased leader until inside final 2f, weakened final furlong, 5th of 10, 8 3/4l behind Monsieur Lambrays (9-9) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
My Boy Sepoy 66-1 (8-8) In touch, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 20 3/4l behind Country (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jul.
Gas Monkey 7-1 (9-7) In touch, not clear run over 2f out, soon switched right, headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 14 1/2l behind Fox Vardy (9-8) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Maiden Castle 9-2 (9-4) Pulled hard tracking leaders, went 2nd 8f out, led 5f out, hung left and headed over 2f out, soon weakened and eased when no chance final furlong, 7th of 9, 17l behind Mayfair Spirit (9-4) at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Brooklyn Boy 18-1 (9-6) Raced keenly on outside, chased leaders, went 2nd 5f out until over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 12, 7 1/4l behind Glan Y Gors (9-2) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Torochica 10-1 (9-2) Raced keenly tracking leader until pushed along over 3f out, chased leaders, weakened, 6th of 9, 11 1/2l behind Mayfair Spirit (9-4) at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Agent Basterfield (IRE) 4-1jfav (9-2) Chased leaders, avoided all the trouble on inside and led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed and lost 2nd final strides, 3rd of 10, at Brighton 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Knowing 9-2fav (9-7) Towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden and no impression final furlong, 7th of 13, 3 3/4l behind Colony Queen (9-4) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Blue Cup (FR) 17-2 (9-1) Slowly into stride, held up in last pair, headway near side of group over 1f out, never going pace to get involved, 5th of 12, 6 1/4l behind Gin Palace (9-5) at Newbury 1m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Snow Ocean (IRE) 4-1 (8-11) Took keen hold 4f, close up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Red October (9-2) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in Jul.
Noble Peace 13-2 (9-6) Mid-division, not much room over 6f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Crystal Casque (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Champs De Reves 25-1 (9-8) Held up in rear, headway on outside chasing leaders over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 3 3/4l behind Broad Appeal (9-2) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Hollywood Road (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Mid-division, pushed along 3f out, hung left over 1f out, no impression, 7th of 9, 5 3/4l behind Involved (9-10) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Motawaafeq (FR) 16-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Alnaseem (9-8) at Yarmouth 1m hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Stormbomber (CAN) 33-1 (9-4) Raced keenly, tracked leader 2f, chased leaders, weakened 2f out, 6th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Lethal Missile (9-3) at Windsor 1m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Ashazuri 33-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, hanging right 2f out, never involved, 8th of 14, 9 3/4l behind Regal Director (9-9) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Songkran (IRE) 15-8fav (9-9) Prominent early, soon steadied into 6th, headway 3f out, went 2nd 2f out, led 1f out, stayed on, pushed out, won at Chepstow 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in Jul beating French Riviera (9-2) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
