made most until headed over 2f out, weakened
held up towards rear, headway wide 3f out, stayed on final furlong, not reached leaders
behind, headway on inside 2f out, kept on final furlong, not pace to challenge
in rear, late headway final 2f nearest finish
held up, mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, with winner and every chance inside final furlong, just held
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon lost the place and weakened, eased over 1f out
held up towards rear, some headway final 2 furlongs never nearer
started slowly, in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, led just inside final furlong, driven out, held on
always behind
prominent, led over 2f out, hard ridden and headed just inside final furlong, weakened
held up in touch, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, chased leaders over 2f out, soon ridden and one paced over 1f out
pulled hard in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened quickly and eased over 1f out
with leader ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
prominent, until ridden and weakened over 2f out
in rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders under pressure final furlong, always held
held up, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace, never nearer
held up mid-division, ridden 3f out, no progress
held up in touch, ridden 3f out and beaten
This is a notoriously hard race to fathom, but Sir Michael Stoute and Mark Johnston both have an excellent record in recent years, saddle five runners between them here and it is quite possible the winner may come from one of that quintet. Stoute, who saddled the second and third in the race last year and won with Beekeeper two years ago, relies on Chief Yeoman, with Kieren Fallon booked, and the progressive Highland Games, with Mick Kinane on board. The former was long odds-on to win a seven furlong maiden on his reappearance at Lingfield, but made extremely heavy weather of it. A fair third over a mile on his handicap debut at Newmarket, he was never nearer when seventh over ten furlongs at Epsom last time and on that occasion certainly shaped as though this trip would suit him. Highland Games beat Fantastic Love by three and a half lengths at Windsor last time, but the latter was odds-on favourite that day and was badly hampered on the home turn, so on two pounds better terms there is every reason to believe that he could reverse the form. Double Obsession is blinkered for the first time here, having been largely disappointing this season, but a better chance can be given to Darryll Holland's mount, Rahaf. He has been very consistent this season, is reasonably treated at the weights and Holland is the only man to have won on him. There are many other dangers, including John Gosden's Bowing, who narrowly failed to land a gamble at Goodwood last time, Blythe Knight, for whom Ed Dunlop has booked Johnny Murtagh to ride, and Famous Grouse, who has yet to run a bad race and hails from a Roger Charlton yard which saddled two winners on the opening day of the meeting. David Loder's cosy York winner, Etesaal, is another who has to be respected, despite a seven pound hike in the weights. That said, we think the Stoute factor is the best clue to solving this puzzle, so Chief Yeoman, in his first try at this distance, gets a tentative vote
