close up, ridden 3f out, soon lost place, beaten 2f out
led, ridden, headed just over 3f out, kept on well final 2f
tracked leader, led just over 3f out, stayed on under pressure, headed, no extra final 50 yards
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, ran on well to lead final 50 yards
started slowly, always behind
held up in mid-division, chased leaders 2f out, no impression over 1f out, one pace
mid-division, ridden, weakened from 2f out
took keen hold, close up, hampered, checked after 2f, lost place, stayed on final 2f, never dangerous
slowly into stride, in rear, headway from 2f out, stayed on, not reached leaders
chased leaders, under pressure 3f out, soon weakened
This is tricky and a slight preference is for Polish Spirit over Donestrela, Fiveoclock Express, Iffy and Arabie. Quite simply, Polish Spirit is a course and distance winner who remains competitive from his current mark, so he has to be considered here. Desert Island Disc remains well weighted based on her best of last year, but she seems to be struggling to recapture that form. Donestrela is eight pounds above a winning mark but has been running pretty well from her revised rating and holds claims. Much as Fiveoclock Express has been on a roll, winning three times in a row, each of those successes has come at Brighton and her new mark will not make things altogether easy. Epsom winner Iffy also has a career-high mark to defy but cannot be discounted, while Arabie has not really built on his Bath win, although he holds place claims. On his winning form of September 2003, Ring Of Destiny is well-weighted - the trouble is he has not won since, and Flying Spirit is still six pounds above a winning mark. Shake it all up then, and what falls out is the selection, Polish Spirit.
Flying Spirit (IRE) 14-1 (9-10) In touch, ridden along over 3f out, soon outpaced, 6th of 7, 12l behind Eastborough (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 3f hcp (4) gd.
Ring of Destiny 40-1 (8-13) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 11th of 20, 6l behind Afrad (9-7) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (3) gs.
Arabie 5-1 (9-5) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Charmatic (8-13) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (4) gd.
Iffy 7-2 (9-2) Settled in rear, headway to chase leaders over 4f out, ridden to challenge 3f out, no extra over 1f out, 5th of 7, 7l behind Eastborough (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 3f hcp (4) gd.
Fiveoclock Express (IRE) 11-2 (9-6) Held up in rear, ridden 4f out, stayed on from over 1f out, led last strides, won at Brighton 1m 4f app hcp (6) frm beating Party Ploy (9-2) by a shd, 8 ran.
Donastrela (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Keen, soon in touch, pushed along over 3f out, chased winner from 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Moonshine Bill (8-7) at Chepstow 1m 4f app hcp (5) gf.
Polish Spirit 12-1 (9-6) Held up in mid-division, headway and chased leaders 7f out, led over 4f out to over 3f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 8l behind Spanish Ridge (9-3) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp (5) frm.
Desert Island Disc 7-1 (10-0) Led, ridden and headed over 4f out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 7l behind Spanish Ridge (9-3) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp (5) frm.
Eijaaz (IRE) 10-1 (8-9) Towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 7th of 16, 8l behind Westcourt Dream (8-9) at Haydock 1m 3f hcp (5) gf.
Unbridled's Dream (USA) 20-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, in touch, outpaced over 3f out, soon beaten, last of 7, 16l behind Eastborough (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 3f hcp (4) gd.
