with leader, led after 3f, headed well over 1f out, weakened and hung right under pressure, eased when no chance final furlong
in rear, not clear run briefly over 2f out, soon driven and beaten
chased leaders until ridden and weakened well over 1f out
took keen hold in touch, effort and ridden 2f out, outpaced final furlong
tracked leaders, every chance 2f out, effort right under pressure and one pace final furlong
held up towards rear, steady headway on outside 3f out, led well over 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, held on gamely
with leaders until ridden and weakened 2f out
steadied start, soon switched left, raced rear near side, still last 2f out, switched right over 1f out, strong run final furlong, just failed
held up and behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on under pressure, no chance with first two
led 3f, stayed prominent, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, kept on again final furlong
took keen hold, ridden and weakened over 2f out
dwelt, soon mid-division, effort and head won outside over 2f out, soon ridden and one apce final furlong
What a cracking event to get the meeting under way, with last years winning stable represented by No Excuse Needed and Tough Speed. The former looks the pick of that pair and he would have a sound chance if he could reproduce his running in the St James Palace Stakes here last year. Tough Speed was unsuited by the slow pace at Chester and is better than that effort, although he looks up against it in this. Godolphin rely on Best Of The Bests from four entries. A Group one winner, he will not find it easy under his penalty and would not want any more rain. There should be liitle between recent Leicester winner Tillerman and the runner-up in that event Vicious Knight. The former looked in good nick in the paddock before that race, but he may find the ground against him here, for he does like to hear his feet rattle, while Vicious Knight, who was giving weight away that day, looked in need of the outing and can do better here. Third in this race in 2000 and runner-up last year, Swallow Flight would not be winning out of turn. Geoff Wragg's battled hardened six-year-old, looks sure to run well again, without actually winning, while the fly in the ointment is Nayyir, who has come a long way since opening his account on the All-Weather. This is a big step up in class for him, but he will be suited by the likely strong pace and must not be underestimated. Aidan O'Brien relies on the three-year-old Century City, who will not mind the ground but, he may be flattered by his proximity to Rock Of Gibralter in the Irish 2000 Guineas. Frenchmans Bay, third in last years 2000 guineas, beaten a length by Golan, has been brought along slowly and comes here with his confidence sky high. He has only had five races in his short career, so there should be plenty of improvement in him, he will not mind the ground and could well be the one to beat.
