made most until 4f out, weakened rapidly over 3f out, tailed off
held up towards rear, steady headway to mid-division 8f out, tracked leaders going well 4f out, went 2nd over 3f out, led over 2f out, driven and strongly pressed when rider dropped reins inside final furlong, stayed on gamely, all out
started very slowly, behind, poor 13th when eased final 2f, tailed off
took keen hold, held up in 7th, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden and chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, switched right well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, kept on well towards finish, never nearer
slowly away flashed tail and virtually refused to race, tailed off throughout
took keen hold and held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to get involved
towards rear, behind when lost action and pulled up over 4f out
tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened well over 1f out
mid-division, weakened lost place and towards rear 6f out, tailed off and eased final 2f
held up towards rear, headway to mid-division 9f out, chased leaders 4f out, pushed laong in 3rd 3f out, went 2nd 2f out, keepin on same pace when lost 2nd 1f out, plugged on for 3rd
held up towards rear, smooth hedaway on outside over 3f out, chased leading pair entering final 2f, stayed on to chase winner 1f out, driven strong challenge and every chance final furlong, just held
chased leader until 4f out, weakened rapidly over 3f out, tailed off and eased
took keen hold tracking leaders, led approaching final 4f, ridden and headed riddenand headed over 2f out, weakened quickly well over 1f out, tailed off
took keen hold in mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, weakened 2f out
held up off the pace in 6th, pushed along over 3f out, weakened quickly inside final 3f, tailed off
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway on inside 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
tracked leaders in 5th, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
Nonrunner
SHAHWARDI, runner-up to Simenon a year ago, has obviously been targeted to go one better and it will be a surprise if there's one as good as the Gold Cup runner-up in the line-up this year so he has to be the selection. Chiberta King has a Listed success over 2m to his credit and has generally performed at a much higher level so he has to be on the short-list while No Heretic looks well worth a try over this longer distance and is proving most consistent. Jim Bolger wouldn't be sending Cul Baire here without good reason and the progressive Leopardstown winner, who is bred for this sort of trip, can get involved along with Nicky Henderson's Courtesy Call, who has been in very good form in staying races over hurdles. Meganisi and the enigmatic and well-named Mad Moose are others to consider though potential punters might care to wait to see if the latter consents to start before plunging.
American Spin 13-2 (9-8) Soon tracking leader, led after 2f, ridden and narrowly headed over 4f out, stayed pressing leader under pressure and every chance 2f out, one pace in 3rd over 1f out, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Rasheed (9-6) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb '12.
Chiberta King 16-1 (8-12) Chased leader, driven to challenge over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 7, 13l behind Willing Foe (8-12) at Newbury 1m 5f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) gf in May.
Cosimo De Medici 8-1 (9-7) Started slowly, held up in rear, slightly hampered approaching halfway, steady headway travelling well over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on, unable to reach winner, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Palazzo Bianco (9-5) at Goodwood 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
Cul Baire (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Tracked leader in 2nd, headway to lead entering straight and soon ridden to assert, driven out and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp 60-90 gf beating Defence Of Duress (9-4) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
First Avenue 16-1 (8-4) Held up well off the pace towards rear, headway on inside over 2f out, went 4th over 1f out, no chance with leading trio, dropped to 5th towards finish, 5th of 12, 7l behind Sheikhzayedroad (9-7) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Junior 4-1 (9-10) Led, driven and headed 5f out, soon ridden, lost place over 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, 9th of 19, 29l behind Veiled (9-3) at Royal Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Jun '11.
Mad Moose (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Refused to race, in a race won by Songcraft (9-0) at York 1m 6f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) gd in May, 5 ran.
No Heretic 7-2fav (9-4) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind Highland Castle (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Ocean's Minstrel 25-1 (9-11) In touch, ridden 3f out, plugged on same pace, 6th of 14, 14l behind Ardlui (10-0) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Nov.
Palazzo Bianco 11-1 (8-8) Behind, outpaced over 5f out, tailed off over 3f out, 10th of 14, 17l behind De Rigueur (8-13) at Haydock 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Riptide 12-1 (9-1) In touch in 4th, pushed along 4f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on well, won at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gf beating Our Folly (8-12) by 4l, 10 ran.
Seaside Sizzler 10-1 (9-2) In touch in 5th, pushed along over 3f out, headway on outside over 1f out, plugged on inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Sun Central (9-7) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in May.
Shahwardi (FR) 12-1 (8-13) last of 6, well behind Domeside (8-11) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 7f Grp 2 (1) sft in May.
Stopped Out 10-3 (10-0) Dwelt, soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Bold Sniper (8-11) at Thirsk 1m 4f mdn stks (5) sft in May.
Courtesy Call (IRE) 5-1fav (8-5) Prominent, chased clear leader 10f out, joined leader 7f out, led 5f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 18, 4 1/2l behind Domination (8-9) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep.
Mashaari (IRE) 13-2 (9-8) Prominent, led over 3f out, soon strongly challenged, headed over 1f out, faded, 4th of 15, 11l behind Well Sharp (9-7) at York 2m hcp 0-90 (3) sft in May.
Yazdi (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway and in touch on outside 7f out, driven over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 16, 16l behind Educate (9-7) at York 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) hvy in Oct.
Cloudy Spirit 14-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon no impression, 5th of 15, 14l behind Well Sharp (9-7) at York 2m hcp 0-90 (3) sft in May.
Sohar 12-1 (8-12) Towards rear, ridden 3f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 10, 4l behind Arch Villain (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in May.
Meganisi (IRE) 40-1 (8-12) Raced wide, chased leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden 5f out, weakened inside final 4f, tailed off, last of 9, 36l behind Universal (8-11) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gs in Apr.
