led for 1f, stayed prominent until weakened 2f out
slowly into stride, well in rear, steady headway on inside rail over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, driven and just held on, all out
close up, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, one pace final furlong
mid-division, hard driven and beaten 2f out
keen hold, prominent, led 4f out, headed approaching final furlong, weakened
held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reached leaders
behind, pushed along 4f out, soon struggling
held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased winner final furlong, strong challenge near finish, just held
mid-division, pushed along 4f out, weakened 2f out
keen, tracked leaders, hard ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
prominent, driven along 3f out, weakened over 1f out
Withdrawn
In a far-from-straightforward contest, we will select Elidore from a list that included The Fun Merchant and Farriers Charm The selection comes into the reckoning if being able to get close to the form that saw finish second off a six-pounds higher mark at Chepstow last August. Also, the drop in trip from his last two runs is seen as a good thing, and hopefully he can prove that point tonight. Much as The Fun Merchant has hardly sparkled since winning at Chepstow in May, he now runs from just a pound above that mark, something that gives him claims tonight to our way of thinking. Farriers Charm made a pleasing return for the season last time and, so long as the going is not too quick, can build on that tonight and go well. Of the others, Fuel Cell has suggested that a try and this shorter trip might help his cause, while the in-and-out course and distance winner, Border Edge, can be given a chance if at his best. Finally, Firebird is a little hard to assess, so give the betting a glance, Foley Prince could be fancied on last year's from but hasn't sparkled so far in two runs this time around, and Bahama Reef has a place squeak on his best form on Turf, a surface on which he has yet to score. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Elidore.
Foley Prince 8-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden, weakened halfway, last of 8, well behind Jools (9-4) at Windsor 1m stk 0-70 (5) gf.
Farriers Charm 14-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge and carried head high from 2f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 10, 2l behind Marchetta (8-10) at Sandown 1m 1f fll hcp (5) gf in May.
Go Yellow 20-1 (9-7) Behind, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 9, 16l behind Pure Imagination (9-3) at Chepstow 7f hcp (5) gf.
Fuel Cell (IRE) 11-2 (9-10) Held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, no headway final 2f, 10th of 12, 8l behind Michaels Pride (8-7) at Salisbury 1m 2f hcp (5) gf.
Littleton Zephir (USA) 100-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 6, 23l behind Court Masterpiece (9-5) at Goodwood 1m lst stk (1) gs.
Border Edge 20-1 (8-12) Pulled hard, in touch, weakened under pressure inside final 2f, 10th of 14, 7l behind Habanero (10-2) at Windsor 1m hcp (5) gf.
Firebird 14-1 (9-2) Chased leaders until lost place over 2f out, 7th of 15, 12l behind Wrighty Almighty (8-13) at Doncaster 6f mdn aut stk (5) gf.
Norwegian 12-1 (11-4) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, ridden and not clear run 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 17, 6l behind Uhuru Peak (11-5) at Warwick 1m amt hcp (6) gf.
