chased clear leader, headway to join leader 8f out, ridden 4f out, led approaching 2f out, soon headed, weakened approaching final furlong
soon led, set furious pace, soon clear, joined 8f out, 10 lengths clear with one other, ridden 4f out, headed approaching 2f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, ridden 5f out, weakened over 2f out
steadied start, held up in last place, headway to go 3rd over 5f out, ridden to lead entering final 2f, soon clear, eased near finish
held up in rear, ridden over 4f out, went moderate 4th 3f out, never dangerous
chased leading pair until over 5f out, weakened over 3f out
held up in rear, ridden over 4f out, kept on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
Copernican has gone from strength to strength this season and can make it four wins on the bounce, Raffaas and Dan Tucker look the obvious alternatives. The selection defied a seven pound rise to land the hat-trick last time out. Actually he made a mockery of the penalty, winning eased down by five lengths. Another nine pound hike seems pretty fair and and he is hard to oppose in this mood. Raffaas beat previous winner Jafaru at Goodwood last time out and as that was his first run for ten months he should be open to improvement. Dan Tucker stayed on well to finish third at Kempton last time out and should appreciate this slightly longer trip. The best of the others could be the bottom-weight Alnwick, but we go to the other end of the handicap for the likely winner and that is Copernican.
Old Romney 25-1 (8-6) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 5l behind Eradicate (9-7) at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Copernican 7-4fav (8-9) Made all, quickened 4f out, clear over 1f out, pushed out final furlong, won at Ripon 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) sft in Jun beating Honorable Love (8-9) by 5l, 7 ran.
Dan Tucker 4-1 (8-8) Held up, ridden over 2f out and headway, ran on well, 3rd of 6, nk behind Audit (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Raffaas 8-1 (9-2) Mid-division, not clear run over 2f out, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, pushed out, won at Goodwood 1m 3f 3yo hcp (5) gd in Jun beating Jafaru (9-1) by 1l, 11 ran.
Tivers Song (USA) 20-1 (9-7) Held up, headway 4f out, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 11, 5l behind Raffaas (9-2) at Goodwood 1m 3f 3yo hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Opera Crown (IRE) 17-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, lost place over 4f out, soon beaten, eased when no chance final furlong, 6th of 7, 15l behind Copernican (9-1) at Brighton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) frm in Jun.
Alnwick 5-2fav (8-13) Held up towards rear, driven and headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 6th of 16, 2l behind Ainama (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Jun.
