held up, pushed along 3f out, no impression
chased leader, led 6f out, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened
midfield, pushed along over 2f out, no extra
midfield, ridden and short of room 2f out, weakened 1f out
always in rear
prominent, ridden 3f out, ran on
mid-division, ridden 3f out, short of room 2f out, no extra
held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on
held up, ridden and headway 2f out, went second over 1f out, ran on
prominent, ridden to lead 2f out, ran on well
led, headed 6f out, ridden to regain lead 3f out, headed 2f out, gradually weakened
Whitehaven returns after a long break but was in great form at the end of the last campaign with a hat-trick on testing ground. Like Flyin' Solo, he's taking a step up from Class 4 company but both have more to offer. Laafy won two handicaps at this level last summer and, though not in that kind of form recently, shouldn't be written off while Battle Of Toro, a dual winner in France, wouldn't have enjoyed fast going at Leicester on his debut for new connections. Tim Easterby doesn't waste diesel on fruitless journeys so must have mapped this out for Dark Jedi, runner-up three times at this level last summer, while it's about time Mascat was winning again though he's still looking a few pounds high. ALFRED BOUCHER is very consistent and looked certain to be suited by this extra furlong when staying on over 1m2f here last month so gets the vote in this very competitive handicap.
Laafy (USA) 13-2 (9-0) Steadied and switched right start, held up last, never involved, 8th of 11, 27 1/2l behind Albaflora (8-9) at Ascot 1m 4f lst stks (1) sft in May.
Battle Of Toro (IRE) 17-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, outpaced 2f out, rallied inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Highest Ground (9-7) at Leicester 1m 4f stks (3) gf in Jun.
Dark Jedi (IRE) Evensfav (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 4 3/4l behind Not So Sleepy (9-5) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Sep.
Protected Guest 13-2 (9-7) Steadied start, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Valyrian Steel (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Jun.
Koeman 28-1 (9-7) Always behind, 8th of 9, dist behind Louganini (9-7) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (3) sft in May.
HMS President (IRE) 5-1 (8-9) Raced keenly, held up off the pace in 6th, pushed along when slightly hampered inside final 2f, plugged on late, 5th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Blue Cup (8-12) at Epsom 1m 2f hcp (2) gs in Jun.
Mascat 4-1jfav (9-5) Keen in mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders when not clear run over 2f out, switched left inside final 2f, then back right over 1f out, stayed on when in the clear, never able to mount a challenge, 4th of 10, 1 1/4l behind Sweet Reward (8-9) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Flyin' Solo 3-1fav (9-1) Held up off the pace towards rear, smooth headway out wide tracking leaders inside final 4f, led going well over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won going away, won at York 1m 4f hcp (4) gs in May beating Propriety (9-4) by 2l, 19 ran.
Alfred Boucher 11-4 (8-13) Held up in 5th, pushed along over 2f out, kept on final furlong, never going pace to challenge, 4th of 9, 3/4l behind Faisal (9-7) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in May.
Strawberry Rock (IRE) 28-1 (8-0) Close up, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 12th of 23, 16 3/4l behind On To Victory (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Whitehaven (FR) 11-10fav (8-1) Led, brought main group to stand side 7f out, ridden approaching final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Oct beating Cloud Thunder (8-8) by 5 1/2l, 9 ran.
