towards rear, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
held up, weakened 2f out
held up, weakened 2f out
held up towards rear, one pace final furlong
held up, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
soon led, headed approaching 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up towardas rear, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, edged right, driven out
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up mid-division, weakened over 1f out
held up, stayed on final furlong
held up in touch, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, behind, headway 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up in touch, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
held up, pushed along over 3f out, stayed on final furlong, never able to challenge
chased leaders, weakened well over 1f out
close up, ridden over 2f out, soon led, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, edged left
led early, close up, weakened over 1f out
held up, weakened well over 1f out, soon eased
Captain Brilliance has sound claims but will be a short enough price given the nature of the race so we'll look elsewhere. Roaring Forte will also be well supported but this could be the day that the frustrating REDFORD steals the scene. We'll start by dismissing promising three year-olds Crackdown and Secret Society as only New Seeker of the younger generation has managed to claim this prize in the last ten years and I'm not convinced that either are in that class. Captain Brilliance was touted as being a Group horse in a handicap and we've already seen what Noseda can do with one of those if we hark back to last month and the performance of Forgotten Voice. He's 3lbs well in and may get a stronger pace than he did in the Bunbury Cup which will suit. Roaring Forte has long been held in high regard and looks set to be amongst the pacesetters if his usual tactics are employed. He missed his opportunity in the Hunt Cup for which he was a leading fancy and connections will be keen on gaining compensation. He's feared but priced accordingly and this is the first time that he's raced in a field of more than ten runners so represents little value. Racer Forever is capable of running a big race as is Giganticus who isn't handicapped out of this but will need to run up to his very best. Taqdeyr will appreciate the step up in trip but the yard hasn't had one of their better seasons whilst Al Muheer just doesn't convert enough of his chances. Dhaular Dhar, Genki and Orpsie Boy are three more chances but we'll go against the grain and side with Redford as long as he's a suitable price. It's easy to forget how good his record is given that he's been something of a talking horse but he's run a series of sound races in some of the top handicaps. He may not have enjoyed the success that connections dreamed of but he was third in the Buckingham Palace for Richard Hughes and followed that with a sound run in the Bunbury Cup. He hasn't always delivered as much as expected in the finish and would appreciate a heavy shower or two but was beaten under 3 lengths in last year's renewal from a pound lower mark and Redford is worth an each-way interest.
Diana's Choice (SAF) 9-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, no impression from over 1f out, 7th of 9, 6l behind Serious Attitude (8-10) at York 6f fll stks G3 (1) gd.
Dohasa (IRE) 7-2fav (9-9) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 3rd 1 1/2f out, kept on to 2nd final furlong, pressed winner closed home, just held, 2nd of 9, nk behind Duff (9-9) at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 gd in Jun.
Leandros (FR) 11-8fav (9-6) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, headway in 3rd 2f out, ridden and kept on well final furlong to 2nd close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Miss Gorica (9-1) at Leopardstown 6f stks gf.
Stubbs Art (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Raced in rear; never able to challenge, 10th of 16, 17l behind Snaafy (9-0) at Nad Al Sheba(UAE) 1m Group 3 (1) in Mar.
Racer Forever (USA) 12-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, headway and switched right from over 1f out, soon ridden and stayed on towards finish, nearest finish, 5th of 19, 3 1/2l behind Plum Pudding (9-10) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Redford (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Dwelt, switched left to rails soon after start, held up in rear, headway and switched right over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 6th of 19, 4l behind Plum Pudding (9-10) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Taqdeyr 3-1 (8-11) With leaders 2f, leant on and not clear run 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd near finish, not troubled winner, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Doncaster Rover (8-5) at Haydock 6f cond Stakes (2) gf.
Al Muheer (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Always in rear, 18th of 19, 13l behind Plum Pudding (9-10) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Roaring Forte (IRE) 5-2 (9-4) Awkward at start, soon led, ridden and ran on final furlong, won at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in May beating Tryst (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Dhaular Dhar (IRE) 28-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, no impression, 10th of 19, 8l behind Plum Pudding (9-10) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Giganticus (USA) 9-1 (9-3) Always in rear, last of 19, 16l behind Plum Pudding (9-10) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Captain Brilliance (USA) 3-1fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, edged right and stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 19, nk behind Plum Pudding (9-10) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Genki (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Steadied start, switched right to stands side rail, soon mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Tamagin (9-6) at Windsor 6f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Orpsie Boy (IRE) 33-1 (8-10) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 9th of 19, 7l behind Plum Pudding (9-10) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Signor Peltro 8-1 (9-1) Mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 7th of 19, 5l behind Plum Pudding (9-10) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Nanton (USA) 16-1 (8-13) Always towards rear, 13th of 18, 24l behind Sirvino (8-8) at York 1m 2f hcap (2) gd.
Horatio Carter 11-4fav (9-7) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, driven and headway over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, soon ridden, just held on, won at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Jun beating Osteopathic Remedy (9-2) by shd, 9 ran.
Thebes 9-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over1f out, soon every chance, no extra, 8th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Quest For Success (8-11) at Hamilton 6f hcp 105 (2) gd.
Secret Society 10-3 (9-5) Steadied in rear, switched right and smooth headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, hard ridden and ran on inside final furlong, led post, won at Ascot 7f 3yo hcp (2) gf beating Suruor (8-11) by hd, 10 ran.
Crackdown (IRE) 11-4fav (9-9) Led, ridden and edged left over 1f out, headed and kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Brief Encounter (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Esoterica (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Close up, weakening when not much room over 2f out, 13th of 17, 11l behind City Of The Kings (9-5) at York 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Jeninsky (USA) 8-1 (9-6) Held up mid-division, headway well over 2f out, led well over 1f out, driven out, won at Doncaster 7f flls hcp 0-130 (3) gs beating Happy Anniversary (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
