made virtually all, driven clear over 2f out, ran on strongly, unchallenged, impressive
slowly into stride, soon chasing winner, challenged over 4f out, broke down and pulled up over 3f out
broke well, soon tracking winner, hard driven to challenge over 3f out, lost place over 1f out
dwelt, behind, progress to chase leaders over 2f out, soon under pressure and weakened
held up in rear, headway on inside over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, no chance with winner
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, soon one pace
held up in rear, effort over 2f out, never on terms
Question marks galore as you'd expect but marginal preference is for the unbeaten DESERT MYTH who might just see out this trip better than Bullet Train whilst Captain James Cook is taken on mainly because of the form of the stable. Sir Michael Stoute's colt was an impressive winner at Newmarket last month where he scooted away well in the closing stages. There is enough stamina in his pedigree to suggest that this longer trip will be within reach and with the Newmarket second and third coming out and winning since the form looks solid. Captain James Cook looks the first-string of the Ballydoyle pair and he showed a good attitude to win at Dundalk on his reappearance. The bare form needs improving on but this well-bred colt is open to stacks of improvement. His stablemate Don Carlos was well-held at Newmarket last month and is opposable; the worry with both though is that the horses sent over to Chester this week have failed to fire. Bullet Train went close last time when second to Myplacelater at Newbury; he has since run well so the form looks fair but he needs to race less keenly if he is to see out this longer trip. Hot Prospect ran well behind Coordinated Cut at Newmarket and is bred to win a Derby. The yard is in good form and it would be unwise to rule him out. Togiak was well-held at Epsom last time but is bred to improve as a three-year-old, whilst Dubawi Phantom has stamina to prove now up in trip by half a mile. Not an easy puzzle but Desert Myth missed an engagement at Chester on Friday and can win this instead.
Bullet Train 3-1 (8-13) Took keen hold, soon tracked leading trio on outer, pushed along over 3f out, stayed on under pressure to lead final 100 yards, stayed on until headed and outpaced near finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Myplacelater (8-3) at Newbury 1m 2f con stks (3) gd in Apr.
Captain James Cook 3-1 (9-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, driven along entering straight, led 2f out, strongly pressed from over 1f out, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 4f 3yo mdn stks pol in Apr beating Behtarini (9-5) by hd, 5 ran.
Desert Myth (USA) 6-1 (9-3) Held up in 6th and well off the strong pace, headway and switched left over 3f out, tracked leading pair over 2f out, effort on rails over 1f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) gd in Apr beating Deauville Post (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Don Carlos (GER) 6-1 (9-3) Led on far rail, headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 16, 11l behind Coordinated Cut (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo aut stk (2) gd in Apr.
Dubawi Phantom 25-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, driven and hung left inside final furlong, kept on, 4th of 9, 5l behind Elusive Pimpernel (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Hot Prospect 8-1 (9-3) Raced centre, keen, close up, tracking leaders as field merged 5f out, one pace over 1f out, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Coordinated Cut (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo aut stk (2) gd in Apr.
Togiak (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Tracked leading pair, pushed along well over 2f out, well held in 3rd from over 1f out, 3rd of 4, 4l behind Dreamspeed (8-13) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f con stks (2) gd in Apr.
