tracked leaders centre to near side, raced keenly, ridden inside final 2f, weakened inside final furlong
raced towards far side and 4th in group of 4, pushed along and went 3rd in group 3f out, led group over 1f out and went clear in group inside final furlong, no chance with leaders near side
raced centre to near side, mid-division, weakened inside final 2f
led main group centre to near side and overall, headed inside final furlong, weakened and lost 2 places towards finish
led far side quartet towards far side, headed in group over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders centre to near side, hung right inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out
raced centre to near side, held up towards rear, never on terms
raced centre to near side, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, never reached leaders
tracked leaders centre to near side, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders centre to near side, weakened inside final furlong
raced keenly, tracked leaders centre to near side, pushed along over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear centre to near side, headway towards near side rail chasing leaders and switched left 2f out, ran on in 3rd towards finish
tracked leader towards far side until ridden inside final 2f, weakened final furlong
held up in mid-division centre to near side, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
prominent near side rail, ridden and weakened over 2f out
held up in rear in centre, headway going well when not clear run and switched left 2f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, soon clear
raced centre to near side, held up towards rear and keen, outpaced over 2f out, ridden and no headway over 1f out
tracked leaders in quartet towards far side, weakened over 1f out
raced in centre to near side, held up and behind, ridden and no chance when hampered inside final furlong
slowly into stride, raced near side to centre, held up and behind, headway near side of group and driven over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
raced centre to near side, held up, headway centre of group chasing leaders over 2f out, kept on disputing 2nd over 1f out, plugged on inside final furlong
mid-division centre to near side, headway chasing leaders 3f out, weakened 2f out
dwelt, raced keenly, soon tracking leaders on near side rail, pushed along over 3f out, weakened and eased inside final 2f
NonRunner
Afaak won this last year when Raising Sand finished third and Kynren was fifth. But the latter was drawn on the unfavourable far side and may well come out best today after a pipe-opener at Haydock in which he finished among the also-rans along with Cardsharp and Fox Champion. The latter’s stablemate Qaysar ran a remarkable race when just a neck behind Pogo at Newmarket as he was almost tailed off at halfway – he is quirky but talented. Richard Hannon also runs Fox Power but, like Alrajaa, he has proved best of the all-weather so far. Bell Rock made a winning reappearance at Newmarket and so did Montatham while Lord Tennyson is very unexposed. Dark Vision was just ahead of a subsequent winner when second at Doncaster but we’ll take a chance on the fitness of INDEED. Something of a star at Dominic Ffrench Davis’ yard, the five-year-old won at Chelmsford and Newmarket last year before breaking a bold vessel at Goodwood. He recovered to run well in black type races in the autumn and seems to get on particularly well with Liam Keniry.
Alrajaa 8-11fav (9-6) Tracked leader, led over 1f out, quickened clear, comfortable, won at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Nov beating So Beloved (9-4) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Raising Sand 80-1 (9-4) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, modest late progress, no chance, 9th of 16, 11l behind King Of Change (9-1) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) hvy in Oct.
What's The Story 15-8fav (9-3) Held up, headway over 1f out, ran on into 2nd inside final furlong, never reached winner, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Encapsulation (8-7) at Ayr 1m 2f lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Vale Of Kent (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Raced keenly, held up in mid-division on far rail, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, switched left and almost snatched 2nd, no chance with winner, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Marie's Diamond (9-7) at Newmarket 1m lst stks (1) gf in Jun.
Cardsharp 25-1 (9-8) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 3 3/4l behind Space Blues (9-8) at Haydock 7f lst stks (1) gs in Jun.
Lord Tennyson 6-1 (9-7) Raced keenly, tracked winner 5f, remained handy, hung right 2f out, 2nd again soon after, stayed on same pace final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 4 1/4l behind Marie's Diamond (9-7) at Newmarket 1m lst stks (1) gf in Jun.
Fox Champion (IRE) 28-1 (9-8) Went left and bumped rival start, always behind, last of 10, 4 3/4l behind Space Blues (9-8) at Haydock 7f lst stks (1) gs in Jun.
Qaysar (FR) 9-2 (9-7) Soon outpaced, pushed along 3f out, headway entering final furlong, switched right and ran on, not reach leaders, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Blown By Wind (9-2) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Indeed 9-2 (9-4) Held up in touch in rear, not clear run over 2f out until ridden entering final 2f, soon 3rd, plugged on, just missed 2nd, no chance with winner, 3rd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Lord North (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 2f lst stks (1) hvy in Nov.
Kynren (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) Went left start, prominent, ridden over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, 9th of 10, 4 3/4l behind Space Blues (9-8) at Haydock 7f lst stks (1) gs in Jun.
Afaak (9-2) 4th of 13, 3/4l behind Royal Julius (9-2) at Sakhir 1m 2f gd in Nov.
Pogo (IRE) 13-2 (9-5) Close up, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Blown By Wind (9-2) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Willie John 5-2 (9-2) Close up, pushed along and effort 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 6 1/2l behind Fox Tal (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 2f stks (2) gf in Sep.
Bell Rock 4-1cfav (9-5) In touch towards rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on strongly to lead close home, won at Newmarket 1m hcp (2) gd in Jun beating Ouzo (8-12) by nk, 10 ran.
Wargrave (IRE) (8-13) won at Saint Moritz 1m 2f Grp 2 fst in Feb beating Torochica (8-8), 0 ran.
Dark Vision (IRE) 5-2jfav (9-5) Held up in rear, switched left over 3f out, headway over 2f out, driven over 1f out, led inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, hd behind Sir Busker (9-0) at Newcastle 1m hcp (2) pol in Jun.
Fox Power (IRE) 7-4fav (9-4) Led, headed over 6f out, ridden to regain lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Assimilation (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Beatboxer (USA) 6-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders on outside, outpaced 3f out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 14l behind Davydenko (8-13) at Newmarket 1m hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Petrus (IRE) 40-1 (9-2) In touch stand side, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 19th of 30, 15l behind Lord North (8-10) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Baltic Baron (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Slow into stride, in touch in rear, ridden 2f out, never a factor, 7th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Bell Rock (9-5) at Newmarket 1m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Montatham 5-2fav (9-6) In touch, switched right and headway approaching 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m hcp (3) gf in Jun beating Ambassadorial (9-6) by 3l, 12 ran.
Walhaan (IRE) (8-12) 4th of 6, 2 1/4l behind Famous Wolf (8-12) at Chantilly 1m 1f lst stks pol in Mar.
Fox Premier (IRE) 11-2 (8-6) In touch, headway to lead approaching final furlong, ridden and headed inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Forest Of Dean (8-4) at Goodwood 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Jahbath 13-2 (9-0) 11th of 14, 20 1/2l behind Plus Que Parfait (9-0) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 fst in Mar.
