held up in rear, some headway over 2f out, never a factor
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway on outer over 5f out, ridden and struggling 3f out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, kept on final furlong, not troubled leaders
in touch, chased leaders 3f out, effort over 2f out, unable to challenge and weakened final furlong
raced keenly, close up, effort on outside 3f out, soon ridden and weakened over 2f out
soon led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased when no chance inside final furlong
mid-division, going well on inside 3f out, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, soon beaten
pressed leader, led 2f out, headed just over 1f out, no chance with winner inside final furlong, kept on, lost 2nd post
raced keenly in touch, hampered on rail after 3f and lost place, headway on inner from 2f out, kept on final furlong, not reached leaders
towards rear, plenty to do over 2f out, headway on outer over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, nearest finish
held up behind mid-division, raced keenly, no progress final 2f, never dangerous
behind mid-division, headway on outside over 5f out, in touch over 4f out, slightly outpaced over 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, not troubled leaders
raced on outer in mid-division, ridden over 3f out, no headway and weakened over 2f out
raced keenly towards rear, ridden and weakened from 3f out
mid-division, outpaced over 4f out, soon lost place and weakened 3f out
slowly into stride, very keen in rear, always struggling, never a factor
prominent, pulled hard, ridden to challenge and every chance over 1f out, no extra final 100 yards, took 2nd post
mid-division, ridden along 4f out, kept on one pace final 2f, never dangerous
in touch, edged right after 3f and hampered rival, switched left and led just over 1f out, forged clear inside final furlong, ridden out
The fact that Joseph O'Brien keeps the mount on Johann Zoffany confuses the matter a little but the feeling is that OPINION POLL has more improvement to come and he can see off Quai D'Orsay, Polly's Mark and Chiberta King. Michael Jarvis' Halling colt was a winner on desperate ground last time out at Haydock where he was stepping up in trip to a mile and a half for the first time. He has some good form on a quicker surface and this well-related colt is fancied to defy a deserved 7lb rise in the weights. Quai D'Orsay also comes here on the back of a recent win, this time at Musselburgh, and that was a commanding performance in a strong field. He was actually well-beaten in the race won by Opinion Poll but is obviously a different proposition on better ground. Polly's Mark steps up in trip and is open to more improvement, as is Johann Zoffany who gave his young pilot his first ever winner and he represents strong connections. Above Average drops back from Group Three company but probably has a tough task under top-weight, so of more interest at the other end of the handicap may be the hat-trick seeking Chiberta King who is now 12lb higher than his opening handicap mark in April but is not to be ruled out. The step back up in trip may suit Lasso The Moon, whilst London Bridge can be forgiven his Epsom run last time and he looks nicely handicapped still. John Oxx is canny so a mark of 86 for Zarinski on his handicap bow may not be too much, whilst Highland Glen and Dubai Crest both need to bounce back to form. Takaatuf, Barwell Bridge, Topolski and Brunston can all count consistency amongst their attributes, but in a terrifically tough finale it is Opinion Poll who can come out on top once again.
Above Average (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Chased winner until well over 4f out, soon short of room, weakened over 2f out, eased final furlong, 7th of 8, 28l behind Golden Sword (8-12) at Chester 1m 4f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
Johann Zoffany 7-4fav (8-13) Soon led, ridden and kept on well from over 1f out, won at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-95 gd in May beating Chebona Bula (8-8) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Opinion Poll (IRE) 7-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, outpaced over 3f out, driven to lead entering final furlong, stayed on well, won at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) hvy in May beating Distant Memories (8-2) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Quai d'Orsay 9-1 (9-7) Made all, ridden over 1f out, inched right inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-90 (2) gd beating Kings Destiny (9-7) by 4l, 12 ran.
Polly's Mark (IRE) 13-8fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, driven along over 4f out, led 2f out, stayed on, won at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo fll hcp 0-80 (4) gd in May beating Lonely Star (9-5) by 5l, 6 ran.
Takaatuf (IRE) 3-1fav (9-1) Led, headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Doctor Crane (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in May.
Dubai Crest 14-1 (9-5) Mid-division, pushed along 3f out, ridden and edged left over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 17, 12l behind River Captain (9-1) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd.
Barwell Bridge 12-1 (9-5) Soon chasing leaders, ridden well over 2f out, stayed on gamely to lead towards finish, won at York 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May beating Union Island (9-1) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Topolski (IRE) 9-4fav (9-7) Led, headed after 1f, remained in touch, switched right 2f out, driven to challenge and every chance entering final furlong, kept on, held, 2nd of 5, hd behind Akmal (9-5) at Thirsk 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) fm.
Highland Glen 4-1 (8-12) In rear, ridden 3f out, never troubled leaders, 6th of 10, 11l behind Opinion Poll (8-11) at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) hvy in May.
Brunston 9-2 (9-0) Held up in last pair, steady headway on outside 4f out, chased leader under pressure approaching 2f out, led inside final 2f, stayed on well final furlong, driven out, won at Goodwood 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May beating Bin End (9-4) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Zarinski (IRE) 2-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to 2nd 1 1/2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 4f mdn stks pol in Apr beating Francisco Goya (9-5) by 2l, 7 ran.
Kimberley Downs (USA) 7-1 (9-7) Pushed along and soon chasing leaders, one pace final furlong, 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Braveheart Move (9-1) at Chester 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in May.
Sky Gate (USA) 14-1 (9-7) In rear, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 16l behind Thin Red Line (9-2) at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
London Bridge 13-2 (9-0) Slowly into stride, took keen hold and held up in rear, pushed along on outer 3f out, headway and one pace final 2f, 7th of 17, 12l behind River Captain (9-1) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd.
Lasso The Moon 12-1 (8-12) Rearing as stalls opened and slowly away, in rear, gradually switched left towards inside over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, never nearer, 3rd of 17, 8l behind River Captain (9-1) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd.
Chiberta King 3-1 (8-10) Tracked leader, joined leader 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on under strong pressure, won at Newmarket 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in May beating Petrovsky (9-9) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Fin Vin de Leu (GER) 50-1 (9-0) In touch, weakened 4f out, 7th of 12, 9l behind Quai D'orsay (9-7) at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-90 (2) gd.
Cosmic Sun 12-1 (9-1) Towards rear, hung badly left on bend after 2f, some headway over 3f out, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 11l behind Quai D'orsay (9-7) at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-90 (2) gd.
