chased leaders stands side, switched towards centre 3f out, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
behind centre, headway 2f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, no impression
mid-division far side, outpaced over 2f out, beaten when eased final furlong
slowly into stride, behind far side, outpaced over 2f out
mid-division stands side, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
chased leaders stands side, driven over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression
mid-division centre, ridden 2f out, never on terms
chased leaders stands side, ridden and outpaced 3f out, no impression when edged right over 1f out, soon weakened
behind centre, headway over 1f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong, not reached leaders
chased leaders far side, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division centre, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders stands side, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leader stands side, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong
led far side, ridden and overall leader over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on
behind far side, ridden over 1f out, never on terms
chased leaders far side, lost place over 1f out, beaten and eased final furlong
chased leadrs centre, ridden and effort over 1f out, kept on and chance inside final furlong, held towards finish
always behind stands side
tracked leaders centre, ridden 2f out, led when merged with stands side over 1f out, drifted right and stayed on to lead overall well inside finall furlong
behind far side, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
in touch far side, ridden inside final 2f, weakened final furlong
behind stands side, ridden over 1f out, kept on, never nearer
chased leader far side, ridden and effort over 1f out, kept on and every chance final furlong, no extra towards finish
tracked leader centre, ridden and edged towards stands side 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, no impression
led centre, ridden and headed when merged with stands side over 1f out, weakened final furlong
led stands side, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
behind centre, headway 2f out, ridden and kept on from over 1f out, never on terms
While predicting the outcome of the draw is a thankless task history does show a double-figure stall to be most advantageous and we'll use that notion to help us narrow down the contenders; PALACE MOON gets the vote to win ahead of last year's victor Genki, Enact and Jonny Mudball. William Knight's five-year-old is relatively lightly-raced for one of his age having had just 12 starts, winning three, and after needing his first run at Salisbury the gelding has put together a couple of fine runs in handicaps. His third to gambled-on Laddies Poker Two is even better than it reads as he was given plenty to do while last time at Newmarket his stamina just gave out over seven. He's officially 5lbs ahead of the handicapper following that run and is taken to show that by winning under Fallon. Genki is tried in a visor as he bids to complete the double in this race off a 7lb higher mark than last term. He's got work to do with Palace Moon on their Wokingham form but proven form at the track counts for plenty and he should go well, arriving as he does in form. Enact is a lightly-raced progressive sort from a top yard, albeit one having their troubles, and she's still nicely handicapped just 3lbs higher than when second to an improving sort on her seasonal return. Both the filly's wins have come under these conditions and she can be expected to have improved for that comeback run. Jonny Mudball is possibly flattered by his Newcastle success when benifitting from a strong draw bias, but that could be the case again and he's got speed in abundance. He is 9lbs higher but has been something of a flag-bearer for the struggling Tom Dascombe outfit this term and should give supporters a run for their money. It'd be foolish to discount those with lower draws, especially as plenty of the action this week has taken place up the centre of the track. With that in mind Knot In Wood has to be considered with connections claiming 3lbs thanks to Barry McHugh. He's placed in the last three editions of this race, ran well in the Wokingham when one place behind our selection, and is just a pound higher than when third in this race last term. Drawn next to him is Secret Asset, whose form this year stacks up right the way through, while well-regarded Jimmy Styles is only 4lbs higher than when winning the Ayr Gold Cup and is tried in blinkers. Castles In The Air looks the pick of the Fahey attack although stall two may not be perfect, Noverre To Go is another who finished among the principles in the Wokingham and may have a good draw while Hitchens and Ingleby Lady could also go well, but this wide-open Stewards' Cup can go to Palace Moon.
Knot In Wood (IRE) 3-1 (9-3) Raced alone center, in touch, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 7l behind Barney McGrew (9-3) at Newcastle 6f Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.
Sir Gerry (USA) 6-1 (9-3) Settled in rear, pushed along over 2f out, kept on final furlong, no impression, 5th of 7, 9l behind Barney McGrew (9-3) at Newcastle 6f Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.
Genki (IRE) 13-8fav (8-11) Slowly into stride, soon switched right and raced keenly in rear, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Haydock 6f cond Stakes (2) gf beating Rileyskeepingfaith (8-11) by nk, 8 ran.
Palace Moon 8-1 (9-10) Raced towards far side, held up, merged with center group over 4f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, pressed winner well inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 19, nk behind St Moritz (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Jimmy Styles 14-1 (9-7) Mid-division far side, outpaced 3f out, soon ridden, beaten when eased inside final furlong, 20th of 27, 15l behind Laddies Poker Two (8-11) at Royal Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Castles In The Air 14-1 (9-0) In touch stands side, driven 2f out, soon ridden, headway over 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final mfurlong, held on towards finish, won at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gd beating Noble Citizen (8-6) by 1/2l, 21 ran.
Edge Closer 25-1 (9-3) Chased leaders 4f, 7th of 9, 14l behind Regal Parade (9-3) at Newbury 6f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Kaldoun Kingdom (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, headed near finish, 2nd of 20, hd behind Hawkeyethenoo (9-0) at York 6f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Rileyskeepingfaith 7-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, not clear run well over 1f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 8, nk behind Genki (8-11) at Haydock 6f cond Stakes (2) gf.
Advanced 25-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders stands side, ridden over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 11th of 21, 5l behind Castles In The Air (9-0) at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gd.
Hitchens (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 7th of 20, 3l behind Hawkeyethenoo (9-0) at York 6f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Iver Bridge Lad 10-1 (9-8) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 16th of 20, 8l behind Hawkeyethenoo (9-0) at York 6f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Striking Spirit 16-1 (8-10) Tracked leader stands side, ridden to lead group over 1f out until just inside final furlong, kept on, not pace of winner, 2nd of 27, 2 1/2l behind Laddies Poker Two (8-11) at Royal Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Johannes (IRE) 40-1 (8-13) Chased leader far side, outpaced when carried left 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression final furlong, 13th of 27, 8l behind Laddies Poker Two (8-11) at Royal Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Jonny Mudball 5-2fav (9-9) Made all stands side, pushed along 2f out, soon clear, ran on well, ridden out, won at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun beating Poet's Place (9-6) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Run For The Hills 14-1 (9-7) Raced stands' side, held up towards rear, some headway under pressure over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, eased when no chance final furlong, 20th of 26, 14l behind Treadwell (8-10) at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Ancien Regime (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakening when short of room over 1f out, 10th of 11, 13l behind Noverre To Go (8-11) at Newmarket 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in May.
Prohibit 13-2 (8-13) Raced center, dwelt, held up intouch, ridden and every chance over 1f out, edged left and kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 19, 2l behind Masamah (9-1) at Ascot 5f hcap (2) gf.
Everymanforhimself (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Raced stand's side, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 16th of 19, 13l behind St Moritz (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Evens And Odds (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Raced far side, tracked leaders, merged with center group over 4f out, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 12th of 19, 5l behind St Moritz (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Enact 15-2fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 23, 1 1/4l behind Hawkeyethenoo (8-1) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gs in May.
Ingleby Lady 8-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 17th of 20, 8l behind Hawkeyethenoo (9-0) at York 6f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Sonny Red (IRE) 40-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden over 1f out, no impression, 13th of 20, 4 1/2l behind Hawkeyethenoo (9-0) at York 6f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Noverre To Go (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) Chased leaders far side, headway to lead group inside final 2f, ridden over 1f out, headed narrowly inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 7th of 27, 6l behind Laddies Poker Two (8-11) at Royal Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Secret Asset (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Held up in last pair, good headway on stands side rail over 1f out, stayed on to 3rd final furlong, never any chance with winner, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Regal Parade (9-3) at Newbury 6f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Prime Exhibit 7-2 (9-4) Made most, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol beating Mr Rainbow (9-6) by 1l, 10 ran.
Parisian Pyramid (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 20, 1l behind Hawkeyethenoo (9-0) at York 6f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Singeur (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Mid-division, chased leaders halfway, ridden over 1f out, weakened towards finish, 10th of 20, 3 1/2l behind Hawkeyethenoo (9-0) at York 6f hcp 105 (2) gf.
