squeezed out soon after start, held up in rear, headway on outside 3f out, edged left and led over 1f out, ran on well, clear towards finish
bumped start, chased leaders, effort and edging left over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on, no impression on winner
bumped start, tracked leaders, took keen hold, not much room against stands rail over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, took 3rd post
tracked leaders, led 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, lost 3rd post
took keen hold, prominent, every chance 2f out, not much room over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, headed 2f out, losing place when not much room over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, switched right over 2f out and over 1f out, never threatened
A winner at Chester, DRAGONS TAIL finished well ahead of City Guest when seventh in the Windsor Castle at Ascot. He’ll find this easier and is preferred to Queen Of Kalahari. The latter defied a penalty in a fillies’ race at Newbury last time while Rufus King finished in front of Joe's Spirit when runner-up in a conditions race at Beverley before returning a losing favourite on a trip over to Ireland. Both Holdenhurst and Alaska have been beaten since scoring at Brighton earlier and need to improve.
Rufus King 5-4fav (9-10) Soon close up and disputed lead, pushed along from 2f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra and one place in 4th closing stages, 4th of 8, 2l behind Red Persian (8-11) at Leopardstown 7f gf in Jun.
Dragons Tail (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression final furlong, 7th of 22, 5l behind Sound And Silence (9-3) at Ascot 5f lst stks (1) gf in Jun.
Joe's Spirit (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 7, 9 1/4l behind Cardsharp (9-0) at Beverley 5f stks (2) gs in Jun.
Alaska (IRE) 7-1 (9-9) Prominent, every chance over 1f out, faded final furlong, 3rd of 10, 4 3/4l behind Grand Koonta (9-2) at Windsor 6f stks (5) gs in Jul.
Queen Of Kalahari 6-1 (9-4) Raced on near side rail, made all, ridden and pressed inside final furlong, ran on gamely, won at Newbury 6f fll stks (4) gf in Jun beating Controversial Lady (8-8) by nk, 11 ran.
Holdenhurst 11-8fav (9-9) Tracked leader until led over 2f out, ridden and headed just inside final furlong, ran on, readily, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Pranceabootthetoon (9-2) at Brighton 6f stks (5) gf in Jun.
City Guest (IRE) 100-1 (9-3) Mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, 19th of 22, 13 3/4l behind Sound And Silence (9-3) at Ascot 5f lst stks (1) gf in Jun.
