raced wide, in touch, smooth headway to on bit approaching 1f out, shaken up and hung left inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, readily
slowly into stride, in rear, headway on outer over 1f out, ridden to challenge winner inside final furlong, ran on near finish
always towards rear
led after 2f, ridden and headed approaching 1f out, kept on and edged left near finish
in touch, outpaced over 4f out, kept on final furlong
led 2f, tracked leader, ridden and every chance from 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, staying on when not clear run and short of room inside final furlong, rallied to go 4th near finish
steadied start, in rear, headway on outer over 2f out, ran on final furlong
This tightly-wound contest can go to JO'BURG ahead of Dubai Bounty and Arizona John. David Kenny's 7lb claim helps ease the burden on our selection, who benefited from an enterprising ride to score at Sandown last time. Up 5lbs this is arguably tougher, but our feeling is this contest is a shade less competitive and the horse is undeniably well-treated on old form, so we'll take him to go in again and the main expense of Dubai Bounty. At first glance the 6lb rise she's incurred for taking third last time is hard but she finished right behind the now 89-rated Berling, so this mark of 77 appears perfectly fair. Indeed, as she's had only three career starts there should be more to come and as she won first time out there are no concerns about the 81-day absence. Arizona John is relatively lightly-raced and certainly unexposed at this sort of trip, having seemingly improved for stepping up to it last time when successful at Pontefract. The stiff finish here should therefore suit and he's far from handicapped out of it up 6lbs. Kavachi is becoming well enough handicapped but, while he acts on quick ground, he's surely better racing on ground with cut. Danehillsundance has been around for an age but hasn't had many tries at this distance and showed last time at Beverley that he definitely stays so watch out for a big run from him off 4lbs higher, Greylami may need help from the handicapper and Shernando needs to show he's not reliant on Fibresand. Mabuya will go well if they go fast in front but has missed some easier opportunities since winning and Sandown whilst Snoqualmie Boy will surely win soon but probably over further. An interesting race this one, with Jo'burg taken to emerge on top.
Greylami (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) In touch, ridden along 2f out, staying on same pace when squeezed out just over 1f out, 7th of 14, 6l behind Submariner (9-1) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Jun.
Jo'burg (USA) 5-1 (8-12) Slowly away, in rear, came stands side to race alone over 3f out, headway 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on, won at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Jun beating Bugaku (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Danehillsundance (IRE) 9-4fav (9-7) Held up in 5th, hand ridden from over 2f out, headway over 1f out, edged right and led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun beating Umverti (8-3) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Mabuya (UAE) 7-2 (9-7) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden and effort over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 8th of 10, 8l behind Ouster (9-4) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.
Arizona John (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, smooth headway on inside over 2f out, 2nd over 1f out, led 1f out, shaken up and edged left, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jun beating Follow The Flag (9-7) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Snoqualmie Boy 4-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 4f out, joined leading pair over 3f out, outpaced 2f out, soon ridden and no impression, lost 3rd inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 10l behind Lang Shining (9-6) at Chester 1m 2f clm stks (5) gf in Jun.
Kavachi (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 7, 4l behind Reve De Nuit (9-6) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
Shernando 14-1 (9-6) Raced wide, in touch, ridden 3f out, held when short of over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 13l behind London Stripe (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gs in May.
Elvira Madigan 8-1 (9-4) Held up, ridden over 2f out, headway when carried head high over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 13, 9l behind Diamond Duchess (9-7) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jun.
Dubai Bounty 5-2fav (9-0) In rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, ran on, just failed, 3rd of 9, hd behind Berling (9-2) at Folkestone 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Apr.
