keen, in touch, ridden when hampered 3f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, ridden and headway when switched left over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
prominent, pushed along over 5f out, bumped 3f out, soon weakened
behind from halfway
mid-division, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
prominent, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, stayed on
towards rear, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, switched right and headway 3f out, led well over 1f out, soon edged left, ran on
tracked leaders, ridden when bumped 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
started slowly, took keen hold in rear, headway over 6f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
pulled hard, always behind
tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, one pace final furlong
behind, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
led and took keen hold, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Contact Dancer can step up on his Chester Cup run to beat Malarkey, with Nessen Dorma, Dr Sharp and Trance seen as the other main dangers in this staying event. Mark Johnston's six-year-old showed that he is a force to be reckoned with over a trip when landing the totesport Cesarewitch last October, and his defeat behind Sendintank on his final start of the year at Doncaster can be put down to a moderate gallop. The tight contours of Chester did not suit his style of running on his return, so the fact that he finished as close as he did to Anak Pekan suggests that he should be followed now back on a more galloping track. There should be plenty of pace on here if Nessen Dorma and Fortune Island crack on, and things should fall into place for the selection who does not look harshly handicapped despite his past success. Malarkey kept on well when beating Sun Hill at Thirsk on his return to action and can step up a gear to take a hand, while Dr Sharp has to put a disappointing effort in the Chester Cup to rest to turn the tables on Contact Dancer. Trance made good late headway behind Far Pavilions at Musselburgh and will appreciate the trip. As long as the ground does not dry out, he can go close as well, but we take him and the rest to be outbattled by Contact Dancer.
Strength 'n Honour 50-1 (8-9) Slowly away, held up last, struggling over 2f out, last of 8, 8l behind New South Wales (8-9) at Goodwood 1m 4f stk (3) gd in May.
Contact Dancer (IRE) 16-1 (8-5) Prominent, pushed along 6f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, stayed on, 3rd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Anak Pekan (9-6) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in May.
It's The Limit (USA) 20-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, driven along 3f out, driven along and no impression on winner over 1f out, lost 2nd final 50 yards, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Flamboyant Lad (8-12) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp (2) frm in May.
Almutasader 11-2 (8-4) Chased leaders far side for 4f, in touch, ridden over 3f out, stayed on same pace approaching final furlong, 4th of 16, 12l behind Shabernak (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-105 (B) gd in Sept '03.
Fortune Island (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 8, 7l behind Cold Turkey (9-9) at Kempton 2m hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Dr Sharp (IRE) 5-1 (8-3) Slowly into stride, mid-division, headway to lead over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakening when not much room over 1f out, 10th of 17, 7l behind Anak Pekan (9-6) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in May.
Trance (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Behind ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, switched left final furlong, stayed on, 4th of 11, 2l behind Far Pavilions (9-7) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp (3) gd in May.
Golden Quest 3-1 (9-6) Prominent to over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 12, 29l behind Balkan Knight (9-12) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (4) gs in May.
High Point (IRE) 12-1 (8-10) Held up in rear, effort and pushed along on outside 4f out, no extra final 2f, 5th of 9, 9l behind Odiham (8-5) at Lingfield 2m hcp (3) pol in May.
Malarkey 22-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, smooth progress to lead 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, won at Thirsk 2m hcp (4) gd in May beating Sun Hill (7-11) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Random Quest 14-1 (9-2) Slowly away, behind, effort on inside 3f out, soon beaten, 8th of 12, 9l behind Establishment (8-4) at Goodwood 2m hcp (4) gs in May.
Nowell House 40-1 (9-7) Held up behind leaders, pushed along over 4f out, effort over 2f out, no impression, 10th of 20, 22l behind Dundry (8-12) at York 1m 6f hcp (4) sft in May.
Nessen Dorma (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Led, driven 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, carried left towards finish, rallied to lead again post, won at Ripon 1m 4f hcp (5) sft in May beating Merrymaker (9-8) by a shd, 9 ran.
Absolutelythebest (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway 3f out, every chance 2f out, weakened final furlong, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 12, 7l behind Balkan Knight (9-12) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (4) gs in May.
Historic Place (USA) 50-1 (9-3) Towards rear, never dangerous, 13th of 20, 26l behind Dundry (8-12) at York 1m 6f hcp (4) sft in May.
Sharadi (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Mid-division, effort over 3f out, soon behind, last of 14, well behind Far Pavilions (9-9) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in May.
Anousa (IRE) 28-1 (9-2) Held up, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, 18l behind Vaughan (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (3) gf in May.
