raced wide in touch, ridden and hung left over 2f out, staying on but looked held when hampered and squeezed out 1f out
pulled hard in touch, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, steady headway far side over 2f out, driven to get in behind leaders over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders in 4th, niggled along 5f out, driven along on outside 2f out, stayed on same pace over 1f out
held up towards rear, never a factor
steadied start, held up last, never in contention
always towards rear, eased when beaten over 2f out, tailed off
led, narrowly headed over 2f out, stayed pressing leader, until winner went by final 100 yards, rallied to regain 2nd close home
soon tracking leader, driven over 2f out, weakening when not much room entering final furlong
slowly into stride, towards rear, pushed along 5f out, some headway over 2f out, soon no impression
towards rear, some headway far side final furlong, never on terms
took keen hold in mid-division, headway 3f out to chase leaders over 2f out, pressing leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
slowly into stride, always towards rear, never a factor
chased leaders, ridden and still front rank inside final 2f, weakened approaching final furlong
behind, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, soon squeezed throgh narrow gap and challenging, stayed on to lead final 110 yards, won going away (hand timed)
close 5th on inside, led narrowly over 2f out, kept slight advantage until headed final 110 yards, out stayed to 3rd close home
always towards rear, never in contention
mid-division on outside, effort and pushed along over 2f out, stayed on same pace and no extra over 1f out
behind most of way, came to race alone on far rail in straight, never on terms
The ante-post market has chiefly concerned Lost In The Moment, Saptapadi and Modun but this looks an exceptionally tough renewal. The former, just touched off by the Godolphin first string Opinion Poll in the Goodwood Cup, has an obvious chance and holds Fox Hunt on that run while the very lightly-raced Saptapadi's effort behind Twice Over in a Group 2 here last month was a superb effort. That was over an extended 1m2f but he has no problem with this trip having finished runner-up in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown last May. Modun and his stable companion Blissful Moment are very much on the upgrade and both look likely types for this while last season's Melrose Handicap 1-2 Mount Athos and Tactician are in good enough form to make their track experience count. The Irish have won this for the past two years and though only Mount Athos and SALUTE HIM represent them this time it's the latter who gets the nod. A 25/1 chance when fifth in the race a year ago, he was dashed into the lead in the straight before fading at the furlong pole. He's been aimed at this and with a 5lb drop in the ratings and less forceful tactics he's taken to make it three on the trot for Ireland.
Fox Hunt (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Mid-division, driven on outside 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, never quite going pace to challenge, 4th of 15, 1/2l behind Opinion Poll (9-7) at Goodwood 2m Grp 2 (1) gf in Jul.
Ted Spread 14-1 (8-11) 4th of 12, 1l behind Watar (8-11) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 6f Grp 2 (1) gs in Jul.
Montaff 16-1 (9-7) Always towards rear, 12th of 15, 26l behind Opinion Poll (9-7) at Goodwood 2m Grp 2 (1) gf in Jul.
Lost In The Moment (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, closer order on inside over 6f out, headway over 2f out, not clear run and switched right inside final 2f, staying on when switched left over 1f out, strong run to 2nd close home and closed on winner last strides, 2nd of 15, hd behind Opinion Poll (9-7) at Goodwood 2m Grp 2 (1) gf in Jul.
Saptapadi (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Held up in last, headway over 3f out, not clear run from over 1f out until switched left inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 5th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Twice Over (9-5) at York 1m 2f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jul.
Nanton (USA) 25-1 (9-4) Towards rear, effort over 2f out, no impression, 13th of 19, 10l behind Green Destiny (8-10) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Vulcanite (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, went 3rd over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out, 12th of 18, 25l behind Tactician (9-5) at York 1m 6f listed hcp 0-110 (1) gd in Jul.
Halicarnassus (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) Close 5th, ridden over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, kept on one pace again inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 5l behind Drunken Sailor (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gf in Jul.
Tactician 17-2 (9-5) Made all, ridden and pressed over 2f out, kept on gamely final furlong, won at York 1m 6f listed hcp 0-110 (1) gd in Jul beating Fox Hunt (10-0) by 1 1/4l, 18 ran.
Mount Athos (IRE) 9-4 (9-9) Tracked leaders mainly 3rd, ridden and dropped to 4th early straight, no extra under pressure final furlong, 4th of 5, 4l behind Sense Of Purpose (9-6) at Leopardstown 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Nehaam 20-1 (9-11) Towards rear, headway on outer over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gd in Jul beating Kiama Bay (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Harlestone Times (IRE) 5-1fav (9-7) Behind, hampered 5f out, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to threaten, 6th of 14, 4l behind Petara Bay (9-9) at Goodwood 1m 6f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jul.
Modun (IRE) 10-3fav (9-1) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not quite reach winner, 2nd of 18, nk behind Arlequin (8-5) at Goodwood 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Salute Him (IRE) 6-4fav (11-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, took keen hold, pushed along and no impression on winner under 2f out, edged right briefly, no extra and dropped to 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Table Forty Six (10-4) at Bellewstown 1m 4f am stks (4yo+) gd in Jul.
Cill Rialaig 11-1 (9-3) Steadied start, held up in last pair, travelling well and looking for room from over 2f out, in the clear over 1f out, stayed on to 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Sea Of Heartbreak (9-3) at Newbury 1m 4f fll lst stks (1) gf in Jul.
Moyenne Corniche 16-1 (8-9) Held up mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 19, 9l behind Green Destiny (8-10) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Investissement 14-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, left 2nd 5f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Petara Bay (9-9) at Goodwood 1m 6f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jul.
Sirvino 25-1 (9-4) In touch in 6th, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden to challenge and every chance 2f out, stayed same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 2 3/4l behind Petara Bay (9-9) at Goodwood 1m 6f hcp 105 (2) gf in Jul.
Blissful Moment (USA) 11-1 (9-5) Close up, pushed along and challenged over 2f out, kept on, always held by winner final furlong, 2nd of 16, 2 1/4l behind Fox Hunt (9-8) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) sft in Jun.
Hillview Boy (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, switched left and headway over 2f out, soon ridden, no extra inside final furlong, 9th of 20, 8l behind Dirar (9-1) at York 1m 6f hcap (2) gd in Aug '10.
