in touch, not much room over 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong
led, ridden and hard pressed over 2f out, drifted left and headed inside final furlong, no extra
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, not quicken and wandered inside final furlong
pulled hard, held up, headway to track leaders after 4f, ridden for 3f out, weakened 2f out
in touch, ridden 4f out, one pace final 2f
tracked leaders, challenged 3f out, and held when squeezed out 1f out
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon ridden and edged right, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway and not clear run over 2f out until 1f out, soon burst through to lead and drifted right, driven out
held up, short lived effort over 2f out
held up, switched to centre, and rapid headway over 1f out, every chance and drifted right inside final furlong, held near finish
This Listed contest can go to Day Flight ahead of Group Captain and Steppe Dancer. John Gosden has his stable in good form at present and his horse handles all types of ground which may benefit if the rain comes. He stays this trip well and having won half of his 14 races so far, he can add to that tally here on a course he has run well at before. He was turned over at long odds-on last time but this should be a truer run race and he will benefit from a true pace. Shahin is unexposed however he has twenty pounds to find with some of these. Steppe Dancer is consistent and must go on the shortlist. As a hold up horse he will be more at home on this track than at Chester last time out. Into The Dark should be all the better for his recent outing when well beaten and the stables horses will hit top gear soon. Alfie Flits is a galloper and will appreciate the return to this trip, whilst Group Captain is very consistent and wasn't far behind the selection last time out. He will love any further rain and must be considered, however Day Flight is the class act and can get his head back in front.
Alfie Flits 9-2 (9-0) Behind, headway to lead over 6f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened quickly final furlong, 11th of 12, 5l behind Gentleman's Deal (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) pol in Mar.
Foxhaven 5-1 (9-2) Led, ridden, headed over 2f out, kept on well under pressure, still every chance 1f out, no extra, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Blue Ksar (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f stk (2) gs in May.
Into The Dark 3-1 (9-1) Dwelt, held up in 6th, effort on outside 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 5th of 7, 7l behind Illustrious Blue (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 2f lst stk (1) gd in May.
Steppe Dancer (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Held up, not clear run over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong but no impression, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Ask (9-0) at Chester 1m 5f Grp 3 (1) gd in May.
Akarem 10-3 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened inside last, 4th of 8, 6l behind Scriptwriter (8-10) at Hamilton 1m 4f lst hcp (1) gd in May.
Day Flight 1-2fav (8-12) Held up, closed to tracked leading pair 3f out, switched right over 1f out, progress to take second last stride, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Peppertree Lane (8-12) at Newbury 1m 5f lst stk (1) gs in May.
Group Captain 8-1 (8-12) Raced in 3rd, went 2nd 4f out, every chance 2f out, driven over 1f out, held when lost second final stride, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Peppertree Lane (8-12) at Newbury 1m 5f lst stk (1) gs in May.
Ivy Creek (USA) 9-2 (9-0) Chased leading pair, ridden over 1f out, not much room on inside entering final furlong, one pace, no impression after, 3rd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Maraahel (9-5) at Chester 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gd in May.
