mid-division, ridden when weakened over 1f out
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders
mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden when weakened final furlong
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, driven and ran on to lead towards finish
tracked leaders, chased clear leader halfway, led over 1f out, soon ridden, edged right inside final furlong, headed towards finish
slowly away, soon in touch, ridden 3f out, every chance over 1f out, ran on
raced alone far side, prominent, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
in rear, ridden when hung badly left to far side over 1f out
keen led and soon clear, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
tracked clear leader until ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor
always in rear
in touch, ridden 2f out, effort when switched left inside final furlong, ran on
It won't come as a surprise that only one favourite has won in ten years and just two have been returned in single figures. Field Of Dream won this last year and is now 9lb higher after his victory in the Royal Hunt Cup. He loves these big field handicaps and has to be on the shortlist. HORSTED KEYNES has been a strong fancy for this ever since his run behind Louis The Pious in the Buckingham Palace Stakes. He was given plenty to do by Jamie Spencer that day and finished with a flourish so a 6lb pull with the winner should enable him to turn the tables and land this nice prize under Jim Crowley. The winner is trained by David O'Meara, who also has the Spencer-ridden Best Of Order entered and the seven-year-old entire will be suited by any give in the ground. The main danger may arrive in the shape of Ayaar and Frankie Dettori, who didn't get the run of the race in the Hunt Cup and were only beaten 3l. Abseil, another to have run at Ascot, showed very good pace and was only run out of it in the closing stages so the shorter trip could be just what's required. Redvers could provide each-way backers with a profit as he loves these races and is just 2lb higher than when landing a tough handicap over the trip at Ascot in September.
Professor 10-1 (9-8) Raced centre, held up in mid-division, headway over 1f out, led group and edged left approaching final furlong, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd final 100 yards, not reach winner, 2nd of 28, 1 1/2l behind Baccarat (9-2) at Royal Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Louis The Pious 33-1 (9-4) Held up, headway to lead over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun beating Horsted Keynes (9-5) by 3/4l, 28 ran.
Glen Moss (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Raced far side, chased leaders, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, no chance with main group leaders, 9th of 28, 5l behind Baccarat (9-2) at Royal Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Heaven's Guest (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Prominent, weakened over 2f out, 23rd of 28, 11l behind Louis The Pious (9-4) at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Absolutely So (IRE) 4-1fav (8-11) Raced near side, held up, pushed along halfway, soon struggling, 15th of 28, 10l behind Baccarat (9-2) at Royal Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Hoodna (IRE) 5-6fav (8-13) Took keen hold in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and soon every chance, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Remember (8-6) at Newmarket 6f flls cond stks (3) gf in Jun.
Georgian Bay (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 8th of 28, 3 1/2l behind Louis The Pious (9-4) at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Loving Spirit 25-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, losing place when badly hampered over 1f out, no chance after, 19th of 28, 10l behind Field Of Dream (9-1) at Royal Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Ertijaal (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Raced stand side from over 5f out, close up, ridden and edged left over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 13th of 14, 19l behind Night Of Thunder (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 3yo Grp 1 (1) gf in May.
Abseil (USA) 7-2fav (8-11) Held up in mid-division towards rail, smooth headway over 2f out, ridden disputing 2nd over 1f out, not much room and faded inside final furlong, 8th of 28, 5l behind Field Of Dream (9-1) at Royal Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Mezzotint (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Dwelt soon close up, ridden when weakened over 1f out, soon eased, 26th of 28, 24l behind Louis The Pious (9-4) at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Best Of Order (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Soon led, headed over 5f out, ridden 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, last of 7, 13l behind Majestic Moon (8-12) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Jun.
Fort Bastion (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on, 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Dance And Dance (9-1) at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Sirius Prospect (USA) 33-1 (9-5) Raced centre, mid-division, ridden 2f out, plugged on same pace inside final furlong, 8th of 28, 4 1/2l behind Baccarat (9-2) at Royal Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Field Of Dream 20-1 (9-1) Steadied start, held up off the pace towards rear, good headway when not clear run and switched right over 1f out, went 2nd entering final furlong, led inside final furlong, soon clear and stayed on strongly, won at Royal Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun beating Chil The Kite (9-9) by 1 1/4l, 28 ran.
Horsted Keynes (FR) 8-1 (9-5) Held up in last place, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on strongly, not reach winner, to much to do, 2nd of 28, 3/4l behind Louis The Pious (9-4) at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Dont Bother Me (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Raced near side, chased leaders, ridden and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 7th of 28, 3 1/2l behind Baccarat (9-2) at Royal Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Zanetto 66-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, not trouble leaders, 14th of 28, 7l behind Louis The Pious (9-4) at Royal Ascot 7f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jun.
Redvers (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Mid-division far side, driven 2f out, ridden and effort that side over 1f out, no chance with stands side final furlong, 15th of 25, 12l behind Gabriel's Lad (9-8) at Ascot 7f hcp (4yo+) (2) gs in May.
Ayaar (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Held up well off the pace towards rear, headway when not clear run over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never quite going pace to challenge, 5th of 28, 3 1/2l behind Field Of Dream (9-1) at Royal Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun.
