tracked leading trio, went 3rd 4f out, went 2nd travelling well over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and pressed inside final furlong, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards
held up towards rear, hung right from 2f out, no progress
held up towards rear, not clear run briefly inside final 2f, soon switched left, driven and stayed on inside final furlong, pressed for 3rd close home
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, chased leader until 1f out, chased leading pair until final 120 yards, weakened soon after
held up in mid-division, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden to chase leading pair 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, soon challenging, ridden to lead final 100 yards, stayed on well
slowly into stride, held up in last pair, pushed along and beaten over 3f out, tailed off and eased final 2f
started slowly, pulled hard and held up towards rear, brief effort on outside over 2f out, soon beaten
tracked leader until 6f out, tracked leading pair until 4f out, chased leading trio when ridden and hung right over 1f out, chased leaders under pressure, weakened and lost 2 places final 100 yards
slowly into stride, soon recovered to mid-division, pushed along and unable to quicken over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, went 3rd final 100 yards and closed on 2nd
There's an international feel to this Listed contest with Mike De Kock running Royal Hunt Cup fifth David Livingston and Alain De Royer-Dupre sending Mandour over from France. The latter was only beaten a length-and-a-half in a Group 1 at Longchamp in May so warrants plenty of respect. Sri Putra usually competes at the highest level and will have needed his run at Epsom while Black Spirit won a Group 3 at Newbury last year. Van Der Neer may prove the pick of the three-year-olds but we'll take a gamble that AFSARE is on his best behaviour for new pilot James Doyle. Luca Cumani's enigmatic gelding won this last year and would take all the beating again if reproducing his brave run in the Arlington Million subsequently.
Afsare 25-1 (9-0) Held up in 5th on inside, pushed along over 2f out, soon not quicken, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 9l behind Al Kazeem (9-0) at Royal Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Black Spirit (USA) 13-2 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden in 8th 2f out, no impression, 8th of 12, 7l behind Declaration Of War (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 3f Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1) pol in Oct.
David Livingston (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Switched to race near side, held up in mid-division, headway 2f out, chased group leaders over 1f out, led group final 100 yards, not pace of leaders far side, 5th of 28, 2l behind Belgian Bill (8-11) at Royal Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Dick Doughtywylie 8-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 14th of 15, 12l behind Forgotten Voice (9-2) at Royal Ascot 1m 2f listed hcp 0-110 (1) gf in Jun.
Mandour (USA) 6-1 (9-2) 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Maxios (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 1f 3yo Grp 1 (1) sft in May.
Mendip (USA) 20-1 (9-0) 11th of 12, 19l behind Hunter's Light (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Mar.
Sri Putra 11-2 (9-5) Always in rear, last of 7, 16l behind Gregorian (9-5) at Epsom Downs 1m Grp 3 (1) gs in May.
World Domination (USA) 11-2 (8-12) Held up in 5th, ridden on outside 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 9l behind Retrieve (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f cnd stks (4yo+) (3) pol in May '12.
Van Der Neer 14-1 (9-0) Always prominent, every chance over 2f out, led inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Remote (9-0) at Royal Ascot 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.
Excess Knowledge 8-1 (8-12) Keen close up, ridden 3f out, edged left entering final 2f, weakened approaching final furlong, 7th of 8, 12l behind Steeler (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 2yo Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Mirsaale 50-1 (9-0) Pulled hard, held up in mid-division, headway to get in behind leaders and short of room 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 12, 7l behind Ruler Of The World (9-0) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f 3yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Jun.
