held up in touch in rear, ridden and weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on gamely
led, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, stayed on same pace
keen in touch, carried head high when challenged winner entering final furlong, not quicken near finish
held up in touch in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and no impression final furlong
took keen hold, held up in touch in rear, ridden and weakened over 1f out
keen tracked leader, ridden and weakened 1f out
By some way the pick of the card with only Sairaam easily passed over as she's an average handicapper taking on pattern-class horses, pick of whom might be DAFEEF. Saeed Bin Suroor's mount may've raced on the wrong part of the track when last seen at Newmarket having previously scored on soft ground at the track, beating a horse who ran well in the Portland on Saturday. He's taken to get the better of Royal Rock who returns from a break of 315 days, although that's not too much of a worry as he's won first time out in each of his last two seasons. Chris Wall's charge does have to give weight away all-round though and that's enough for us to look elsewhere, while Brave Prospector can be expected to need the run and Desert Phantom hasn't repeated his strong juvenile form from 2008.
Royal Rock 9-2 (8-13) 9th of 12, 7l behind Dunkerque (8-13) at Maisons-Laffitte(FR) 6f Grp 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Brave Prospector 7-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong, weakened towards finish, 7th of 13, 7l behind Ingleby Lady (8-8) at York 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in May.
Desert Phantom (USA) 12-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, not much room and hampered well over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression, 7th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Hotham (9-11) at York 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Jun.
Dafeef 4-1 (8-11) Held up in mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon ridden and no impression, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Doncaster Rover (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Listed stks (1) gs in Aug.
Iver Bridge Lad 100-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, behind far side, ridden 2f out, never able to challenge, 10th of 13, 6l behind Markab (9-3) at Haydock 6f Grp 1 (1) gf.
Sairaam (IRE) 3-1fav (9-4) Towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 9, 7l behind Piquante (9-10) at Redcar 7f all hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Tomintoul Singer (IRE) 11-1 (8-3) Restless in stalls, slowly into stride, outpaced in rear, modest late headway, 5th of 8, 7l behind Masta Plasta (8-11) at Nottingham 5f cond Stakes (3) gf in Aug.
