held up, headway and not much room over 2f out, soon ridden to go 2nd, kept on, not trouble winner
tracked leaders, every chance 3f out, ridden 2f out, edged left over 1f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, headway to lead after 1f, headed over 7f out, led again over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on
keen, led, headed after 1f, led again over 7f out, headed over 3f out, weakening when not much room over 2f out, eased final furlong
Maraahel has an obvious chance in this company and is hard to oppose in a race where the main dangers look to be Kew Green and Near Dock. The selection lost no caste in defeat on his return to turf when a creditable third in the John Porter and a reproduction of that effort should suffice. Counsel's Opinion is capable on his day but needs to improve on recent form to take a hand and of more interest may be Karl Burke's Near Dock, who has run well in two starts on turf this term. A bigger threat though looks to be Kew Green, who has continued to improve over the last year but needs to do so again to get the better of Sir Michael Stoute's Maraahel, who has been found a suitable opportunity to regain the winning thread.
Counsel's Opinion (IRE) 9-2co-fav (9-7) Steadied start, held up in rear, never nearer, 5th of 9, 5l behind All That And More (8-7) at Epsom 1m 2f hcap (2) gd in Apr.
Kew Green (USA) 7-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Notnowcato (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Maraahel (IRE) 3-1fav (8-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, headway over 2f out, kept on to chase leaders inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Mubtaker (9-1) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Near Dock (GER) 20-1 (9-1) Held up in touch, last and not clear run 2f out, improved into 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Alayan (9-4) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 3 gs.
