dwelt, held up towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon beaten
tracked winner, pushed along over 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong
towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, ridden 2f out, never near to challenge
held up, headway over 3f out, ridden and onepaced approaching final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace
held up, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong
prominent, ridden 3f out, soon beaten
made all, led steady pace, quickened over 2f out, ridden and kept on gamely final furlong
mid-division, pushed along and headway 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
prominent, pushed along 3f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong
keen hold towards rear, not much room over 3f out, switched inside over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
Plenty of these come into the race with claims of one sort or another and Prins Willem, Trouble At Bay and Unigold are all short-listed. However, preference is for Bagan, who is expected to underline his performance when winning at York with a similar display here. The flatter course was forwarded as the main reason for Bagan's improvement on the Knavesmire and he duly obliged with a very gutsy display in getting the better of Trust Rule and Hambleden on that occasion. There is no reason to suspect that the Henry Cecil team have not got him tuned up for this and the underfoot conditions will not be an issue with him on this galloping surface. Prins Willem may give the selection the most to do but he has struggled with the handicapper since winning over course and distance earlier in the season and has a bit to prove off a 7lb higher mark. Trouble At Bay took an eternity to get going last time and he may struggle if giving so much ground away at this level. Unigold is another who will not be too far away if he has plenty on at the weights despite his allowance as a three-year-old. Therefore Bagan is selected to continue the resurgent form shown by the majority of his stable's runners.
