always rear in centre group
took keen hold, held up in rear of centre group, effort 2f out, soon beaten
switched left start, held up rear of stand side group, moderate late headway
held up in rear of centre group, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong but no danger
unseated rider in stalls
prominent in centre, driven to challenge over 1f out, ran on to press winner well inside final furlong, just held
held up in rear of centre group, driven and headway over 1f out, ran on under pressure inside final furlong
held up in rear centre group, always behind
prominent in centre, overall leader over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, not quicken and lost 2nd well inside final furlong
always rear of centre group
reared start, raced stand side, held up, headway over 1f out, edged right and ran on inside final furlong
prominent stand side, one pace and no impression when edged right inside final furlong
close up in centre, ridden 2f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, held on gamely
led centre group to over 2f out, one pace and no impression final furlong
in touch in centre, driven over 2f out, soon weakened
stumbled start, soon chasing leader on stand rail, staying on same pace when edged right inside final furlong
chased leaders stand side, ridden 2f out, one pace and no impression final furlong
led overall on stand rail to over 2f out, weakened quickly
raced stand side, held up in rear, always behind
tracked leader in centre, led overall over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened quickly
prominent on stand side, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
prominent in centre group, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
Nonrunner
Laa Rayb is the selection from Zaahid with Little White Lie and South Cape two that could give us a run at a big price. King Of Dixie and Al Khaleej are bound to be popular following some eyecatching performances whilst We'll Come was the subject of rave reports on more than one occasion last year. Barry Hills has a strong hand with Dabbers Ridge and Giganticus both fancied to go well but it would be foolish to ignore the claims of Zaahid. He was a leading ante-post fancy for the Lincoln but flopped in the consolation race before finishing third at Newbury. He was given a lot to do that day, seems sure to appreciate this quicker surface and should be capable of winning from higher marks than today's. The vote though goes to Laa Rayb who ran far better than the bare facts suggest on his reappearance over a trip that clearly stretched his stamina. He wasn't consistent last year but looked smart on his day and has the scope to win a big prize like this whilst his run at Newmarket bodes well for his prospects this season. Little White Lie and South Cape are speculative suggestions but the former (who has his first run for a new yard here) showed that he can be competitive in races like these when running Vitznau close at Epsom last year whilst the latter invariably runs well in similar contests and gets on well with his apprentice who's good value for his claim. Our vote though, goes to Laa Rayb.
Dabbers Ridge (IRE) 5-2 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, ran on, won at Warwick 7f stk (3) sft in Apr beating Welsh Emperor (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Giganticus (USA) 20-1 (9-4) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened close home, 12th of 23, 4l behind Candidato Roy (9-7) at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gs in Sept.
Humungous (IRE) 13-2 (8-11) Dwelt and behind, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, rallied inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Appalachian Trail (9-6) at Doncaster 7f stk (3) gd in Oct.
Mine (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, always behind, 13th of 17, 25l behind Lang Shining (8-11) at Newbury 1m hcap (2) sft in Apr.
Laa Rayb (USA) 16-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, edged right, kept on same pace, 6th of 15, 8l behind Proponent (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gf.
Al Khaleej (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (9-4) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, easily, won at Kempton 7f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Apr beating Guilded Warrior (9-2) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Fishforcompliments 14-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace, 8th of 15, 10l behind Proponent (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gf.
Presumptive (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Behind, outpaced 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Vitznau (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Apr.
King of Dixie (USA) 9-4fav (9-4) Soon led, strongly challenged from 2f out, soon ridden, edged right under pressure inside final furlong, held on well, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Apr beating Yarqus (9-3) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Binanti 8-1 (8-7) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 2f out, 10th of 11, 6l behind Ceremonial Jade (8-13) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
We'll Come 13-2 (8-7) Held up, headway 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 18, 2l behind The Illies (8-3) at York 1m hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
Skhilling Spirit 4-1 (9-2) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, driven out, won at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gs beating Il Castagno (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Zaahid (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Took keen hold early, steadied, headway 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong, not pace of front pair, 3rd of 17, 3 1/2l behind Lang Shining (8-11) at Newbury 1m hcap (2) sft in Apr.
South Cape 33-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 17, 10l behind Lang Shining (8-11) at Newbury 1m hcap (2) sft in Apr.
Salient 8-1 (8-2) Led, shaken up 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Ceremonial Jade (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Guilded Warrior 9-1 (9-2) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Al Khaleej (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Apr.
Purus (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, lost place over 2f out, 10th of 13, 6l behind King of Dixie (9-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Apr.
Captain Jacksparra (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Prominent, ridden along over 3f out, soon beaten, last of 16, 22l behind Transcend (9-0) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gs in Apr.
Trafalgar Square 16-1 (8-9) Took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 17, 9l behind Lang Shining (8-11) at Newbury 1m hcap (2) sft in Apr.
Orchard Supreme 33-1 (8-9) Held up in rear, never in contention, 12th of 17, 15l behind Lang Shining (8-11) at Newbury 1m hcap (2) sft in Apr.
Middlemarch (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong, 4th of 18, 10l behind The Osteopath (8-8) at Redcar 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Mar.
Count Ceprano (IRE) 10-1 (8-8) Behind, ridden over 2f out, no impression on leaders over 1f out, 7th of 14, 5l behind Viva Vettori (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcap (3) pol.
Fajr (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Raced far side, with leader, pulled hard, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 18th of 21, 30l behind Smokey Oakey (8-9) at Doncaster 1m hcap (2) gs in Mar.
Little White Lie (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Never better than mid-division, 17th of 26, 25l behind Crooked Throw (9-9) at Curragh 1m prm hcp hvy in Mar.
Dhaular Dhar (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Held up behind, not much room over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 14, 11l behind Markab (8-8) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Apr.
Steenberg (IRE) 20-1 (8-4) In touch, one pace from over 1f out, 8th of 12, 5l behind Turnkey (8-1) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Apr.
