tracked leading pair throughout, pushed along over 2f out, one pace final 2f
soon in rear, outpaced and struggling over 3f out, never a factor
held up in 5th, pushed along over 4f out, soon outpaced and struggling, went modest 4th over 1f out
made all, quickened tempo 7f out, clear 6f out until given breather over 4f out, shaken up and went clear again 2f out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
soon held up in 4th place, never on terms, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked winner throughout, tried to close as winner given breather over 4f out, pushed along over 3f out, no impression when hung right final 2f
Raheen House beat Desert Skyline in a Group 3 at Newmarket last July and later took his chance in the St Leger. But he didn’t appear to get home that day and, though successful over 1m6f here next time and also a good third at Newbury in October, stamina doubts remain. Performances last year suggest Clever Cookie is not the force of old but Montaly came to hand early last year, winning the Chester Cup, and also landed a Group 2 at York in August, though was well behind Desert Skyline in the Doncaster Cup. TIME TO STUDY (NAP) has only run in pattern race company once before, finishing a close fifth in the Queen’s Vase here, but he’s proved himself to be a top-class handicapper in staying races and was unlucky on his reappearance at Musselburgh when the winner slipped its field. He has more to offer, will like the ground and Ryan Moore is an eye-catching booking. Torcedor beat Order Of St George at Navan a year ago and was later second to Ballydoyle’s champion stayer here and at the Curragh so is much respected, despite finishing last in the Dubai Gold Cup.
Desert Skyline (IRE) 9-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, weakened over 4f out, soon behind and eased, 9th of 13, dist behind Order Of St George (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) sft in Oct.
Clever Cookie 11-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, never able to challenge, 3rd of 11, 3 1/4l behind Mount Moriah (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 6f lst stks (1) gs in Apr.
Montaly (9-4) 7th of 9, 17 1/4l behind Ice Breeze (8-10) at Saint-Cloud 1m 7f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Torcedor (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) last of 16, dist behind Vazirabad (9-1) at Meydan 2m Grp 2 gd in Mar.
Raheen House (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Best Solution (8-12) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Time To Study (FR) 11-4fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, 2nd over 2f out, chased winner from well over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 13, nk behind Brandon Castle (8-11) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
