tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway over 5f out, weakened well over 1f out
always behind, detached from over 5f out
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, led main group over 1f out, no chance with winner
held up in touch, ridden to lead main group over 4f out, headed over 1f out, weakened
mid-division, keen hold, headway over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened
held up, never dangerous
always behind
made all, raced alone from main group on far side from over 4f out, stayed on well
tracked leaders, effort over 3f out, soon weakened
tracked winner until lead main group over 5f out, headed over 4f out, soon faded
In this Listed contest, Khyber Kim gets the vote ahead of Mashaahed and Fire And Rain. This is not an easy race to weigh up. Into The Dark was disappointing on his Southwell return after an absence, but he would hold solid claims on his 2005 form. Akarem holds claims on official ratings and will find this easier than a number of races that he has been contesting of late, while Khyber Kim comes here as lightly-raced but proven as competitive in this sphere and ought to be considered, as should Mashaahed, particularly based on his Chester Vase third in May. Degas Art has disappointed since his good Royal Ascot run so the jury is out on him now, while the strongest of the Aidan O'Brien pair seems to be Fire And Rain and he is respected dropped in class form his last two runs. All in all, though, we will just side with Khyber Kim.
Akarem 33-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders in 5th, 4th 5f out, ridden and no impression straight, 5th of 8, 12l behind Kastoria (9-7) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gd.
Camrose 11-2 (9-1) Prominent, ridden 2f out, edged left and stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Foxhaven (9-1) at Chester 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf.
Day Walker (9-4) Some late headway, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Collier Hill (9-4) at Taby 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Fantasy Ride 16-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, race well in rear, plenty to do when switched right and headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Ayam Zaman (8-6) at Newmarket 1m 2f 2yo lst stk (A1) gs in Oct '04.
Into The Dark Evensfav (9-2) Raced freely, led, 4 lengths clear 6f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 7l behind Desert Authority (8-11) at Southwell 1m 2f stk (2) gf.
Khyber Kim 4-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, ridden to lead 2f out, soon hard pressed, narrowly headed over 1f out, strong challenge throughout final furlong, just held, 2nd of 8, hd behind Crocodile Dundee (9-2) at Windsor 1m 4f lst stk (1) gd in Aug.
Profit's Reality (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Steadied rear, effort and switched right to rails 2f out, soon hanging right and beaten over 1f out, 5th of 8, 7l behind Young Mick (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gs.
Storm Trooper (GER) (9-4) Never in contention, 5th of 11, 14l behind Collier Hill (9-4) at Taby 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Tiger Tiger (FR) 33-1 (9-13) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, kept on inside final furlong, 10th of 19, 4 1/2l behind London Express (8-12) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Aug.
Mashaahed 4-1 (8-8) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway to lead over 2f out, clear inside final furlong, won at Ayr 1m 2f lst stk (1) gs beating Ouninpohja (9-0) by 6l, 7 ran.
Before You Go (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out, last of 6, 9l behind Desert Authority (8-11) at Southwell 1m 2f stk (2) gf.
Degas Art (IRE) 7-1 (8-7) Held up in touch, switched centre 6f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 6, 10l behind Windsor Knot (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 2f stk (3) gf in Aug.
Fire And Rain (FR) 20-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 11, 11l behind Sixties Icon (9-0) at York 1m 6f 3yo Grp 1 (1) gd.
Savannah 8-1 (8-11) Chased leaders in 3rd, ridden approaching straight, no extra from 2f out, 6th of 9, 19l behind Tusculum (8-11) at Curragh 1m 6f lst stk (1) gf in Aug.
