raced stand side, close up, hampered 3f out, soon weakened and behind
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, led stand side group just inside final furlong, every chance but held by winner on far side
raced stand side, prominent until weakened 2f out
in rear stand side, hampered 3f out, and again 2f out, ran strongly final furlong, took 2nd final 100yds but held by winner far side, unlucky
tracked winner far side, weakened 2f out and eased over 1f out
raced far side, close up, chased winner final 2 furlong, edged left under pressure final furlong, no chance with winner
raced stand side, held at rear, headway 2f out, soon ridden and weakened 1f out
chased leaders stand side to over 2f out, weakened quickly
switched left to stand side group after 1f, in touch, weakening when badly hampered over 2f out, not recover
in rear stand side, headway 2f out, kept on final furlong nearest finish
close up, led stand side group 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on clean pace
raced stand side, held up mid-division, hampered 3f out, not recover
raced stand side, mid-division and wide, ridden 2f out, soon weakened and eased over 1f out
raced far side, in touch until 2f out
raced stand side and always behind
raced far side, led and overall leader from over 3f out, ran on strongly final furlong, held on well all out
held up mid-division stand side, headway and hung right 2f out, weakened final furlong
in rear stand side, steady headway final 2f but never dangerous
chased leaders stand side until weakened 2f out
held up stand side, steady headway 2f out, kept on final furlong nearest finish
prominent far side until weakened 2f out
in touch stand side, ridden 2f out and soon weakened
towards rear stand side, hard-ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
held up in touch stand side, effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong
close up stand side, led over 2f out, headed 1f out, weakened final furlong
led stand side group until headed over 2f out, soon weakened
held up behind stand side, pulled hard, ridden and weakened over 2f out
raced stand side, in rear on rails, switched right over 2f out, kept on final furlong nearest finish
It is hard to envisage a more difficult 'getting out stakes' , and Chingkara, Pretence and Self Evident all come here in spectacular form, but John Gosden has a superb record in this exceptionally difficult race, so the lightly-raced Hard Nose gets a tentative vote. The Entrepreneur colt won a Yarmouth maiden on his second start last year, and shaped as though just in need of the run when sixth of 15 on his seasonal reappearance and handicap debut at Newmarket. He stepped up on that when favourite but a well beaten second behind New Seeker, again over seven furlongs. Hard Nose is ten pounds better off today, and a combination of that and this extra furlong should be enough to see him reverse the form. Contractor was ahead of the selection when second at Newmarket, and has since filled the same position against his elders when second to Topton last time, so Terry Mills' colt merits the utmost respect. That remark could apply to a lot of these, not least Self Evident, who had the smart Arakan behind when winning at Newmarket last time and seems sure to run a good race here for the in-form Richard Hughes. Jebel Suraaj won well at Sandown last time, with Zero Tolerance behind in third, but Mark Johnston's colt is not sure to be as effective over two furlongs shorter. Chingkara has a good turn of foot and has been a model of consistency this season, but Brian Meehan's charge may struggle on a mark eight pounds higher than his latest win at Goodwood. John Gosden also saddled Mujarad, who improved in a first time visor when winning a maiden at Salisbury last time, but Richard Hills appears to have passed him over in favour of Ed Dunlop's recent Newmarket scorer, Emran, and it is Hard Nose who we will trust with our money here, with Contractor and Self Evident the pick of the rest.
