keen, held up in touch, improved halfway, led over 3f out, quickened clear approaching final furlong, comfortable
chased leader until 3f out, ridden and soon weakened
steadied start, held up well in rear, headway and hung right from over 1f out, rider dropped rein 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd close home
held up mid-division, ridden 4f out, stayed on final furlong, not pace to challenge
held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
keen, in touch, chased winner 3f out, soon ridden, lost 2nd close home
keen, led, headed over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
in touch, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong
In a decent event, Nakheel is selected ahead of Into The Dark and Tau Ceti. Despite having finished just behind Take A Bow in a Goodwood Listed race last time, Nakheel looked an unlucky loser there. Less exposed than his rivals, he can confirm the view that he could well make up into Group performer by landing this Listed race. Into The Dark travelled very well for a long way in a similar course and distance event last time and the key to his chance is the drop in trip, which should suit better today. He can go well. On jockey bookings he is the stronger of the Godolphin entries. Ofaraby beat Northern Splendour last time but, much as he loves soft going, he has to improve by four or five pounds based on official ratings to land a winning blow here. Take A Bow has proven himself competitive at this level and comes here on the back of a very good run in the Cambridgeshire, while Tau Ceti would hold very good claims if back to the level of form that saw him win a similar event over course and distance a year ago, a race in which he beat Into The Dark six-and-a-quarter lengths. The third Godolphin runner, Kilworth, comes here on the back of a very good Wolverhampton win and he is not without hope, while course and distance winner Markovitch ran pretty well in a French Group 3 last time and hold claims. For us, though, the selection is Nakheel.
Into The Dark 10-1 (9-0) Held up, headway 2f out, led main group over 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Degas Art (8-6) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stk (1) sft in Sept.
Northern Splendour (USA) 8-1 (9-2) Soon led, ridden and under pressure over 2f out, headed 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Ofaraby (9-2) at York 1m 2f stk (3) sft.
Ofaraby 3-1 (9-2) Held up, good headway over 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, driven out, won at York 1m 2f stk (3) sft beating Northern Splendour (9-2) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Take A Bow 40-1 (9-3) Held up, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never troubled leaders, 4th of 33, 5l behind Formal Decree (8-9) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gs in Sept.
Tau Ceti 33-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, soom headway over 1f out, never nearer, 7th of 12, 7l behind Stage Gift (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) gs.
Kilworth (IRE) 5-2fav (8-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 2f out, driven to lead 1f out, ran on, won at W'hampton 1m 1f stk (3) pol beating Party Boss (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Markovitch 25-1 (8-11) Made most to 1f out, one pace when headed, 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Best Name (8-11) at Longchamp 1m 2f Grp 3 (A) sft in Sept.
Nakheel 11-2 (8-8) Held up tracking leaders, not clear run and lost place 2f out, switched left and ran on strongly, 5th of 8, 1/2l behind Imperial Stride (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 2f lst stk (1) gd in Sept.
