reared start, behind, driven 2f out, switched outside over 1f out, ridden and ran on well final furlong, just failed
tracked leader, ridden and effort 1f out, no extra towards finish
held up, effort 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong to lead post
held up, ridden and kept on final furlong, never troubled leaders
tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on, headed post
dwelt, soon chased leaders, effort 2f out, kept on final furlong
led, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
Royal Challenge gets a narrow vote over Kings College Boy and Matsunosuke. Royal Challenge goes well on fast ground and was given a great ride by Darryll Holland to score at Windsor in June, overcoming traffic problems to get up and beat a large field. He was then beaten on the Knavesmire when lining up off a 5lb higher mark, but was not too far behind the winner Blackheath, despite being tightened up, and more recently he was a close second at Sandown despite having to come right round the outside. All in all there have been valid excuses for his defeats, and in this smaller field, the Mark Tompkins inmate should have no excuses. Kings College Boy has been running well of late, and was noted finishing well behind Mr Wolf at Pontefract. He looks sure to make his presence felt, and should at the very least have the measure of Matsunosuke. He can meet that rival on 8lb better terms for the half-length that separated them at the Yorkshire track six days ago. Mimi Mouse and Matty Tun are both past course-and-distance winners but are hard to fancy on present form, and we rely on Royal Challenge to put matters right.
Grigorovitch (IRE) 6-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, held up in touch and keen, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 13, 7l behind Fantasy Explorer (8-0) at Ayr 5f hcap (2) frm.
Mimi Mouse 17-2 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 15, 5l behind Golden Dixie (9-3) at York 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jun.
Royal Challenge 7-1 (8-13) Behind, plenty to do over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, gaining near finish, took 2nd last strides, 2nd of 13, nk behind Pic Up Sticks (9-2) at Sandown 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Matsunosuke 13-2 (8-10) Towards rear, pushed along halfway, headway over 1f out, staying on when edged left inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Mr Wolf (9-11) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Kings College Boy 8-1 (8-12) Towards rear, headway when not much room over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, kept on, 4th of 11, 3l behind Mr Wolf (9-11) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Pawan (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (8-12) Slowly into stride, held up, headway on inside over 1f out, kept on, 4th of 10, 2l behind Caribbean Coral (10-0) at Warwick 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Happy as Larry (USA) 16-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, soon prominent and keen, ridden and every chance 2f out, edged right and weakened well inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 5l behind Curtain Bluff (9-8) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Matty Tun 40-1 (8-8) Dwelt, soon mid-division, effort halfway, no impression, 12th of 15, 11l behind Peace Offering (8-12) at Newcastle 5f hcap (2) gf in Jun.
