chased winner, ridden and effort 3f out, weakened quickly over 1f out
made all, steadied pace halfway, quicken clear 3f out, stayed on well, pushed out
chased winner, ridden well over 2f out, kept on same pace
in touch, headway over 3f out, ridden and hung left over 2f out, kept on
slowly into stride, behind, some headway over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on well final furlong, never dangerous
held up, ridden 3f out, stayed on from 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
in touch, ridden 3f out, not much room and switched left over 1f out, one pace final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
Any number of emotional thoughts will be cast the way of the late, lamented Persian Punch, last year's winner of this race, and let's hope it provides a spectacle worthy of him. For us, then, Darasim gets the call over Romany Prince, Silver Gift and Royal Rebel. With the Chester Cup winner and runner-up, Anak Pekan and Misternando, the Ascot Gold Cup third and fourth, Darasim and Royal Rebel (who won the Goodwood Cup in 2000), and the Esher Stakes first and second, Silver Gift and Romany Prince, in the line-up, we are sure we will. Misternando was also third in that last-mentioned race, so we have a formline to play with ,which leads us to suggest that Darasim's Ascot Gold Cup run, if repeated gives him a very good chance and, as such, he gets the call. There will, with great justification, be sentimental support for Romany Prince, who carries the Persian Punch colours, and he ought to go well but, overall, we will side with Darasim.