led until headed over 3f out, soon ridden and weakened quickly, tailed off
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, not clear run entering straight, squeezed through on inside rail, led over 1f out, ridden out inside final furlong
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, not clear run entering straight and hampered, switched right to inside, chased winner inside final furlong but always held
held up behind, going well and not clear run over 2f out, found little and stayed on same pace from over 1f out
tracked leader, led over 3f out, headed under pressure over 1f out, weakened
in rear, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened and tailed off
held up, headway wide over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, soon one pace, lost 3rd inside final furlong
held up mid-division, ridden over 3f out, not pace to challenge and weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway and effort over 2f out to chase leaders, soon ridden and kept on to take 3rd inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway and not clear run over 2f out, switched right to inside over 1f out, not run on
held up 4th, lost touch over 4f out, soon tailed off
Placed behind Cover Up in the last two runnings of this contest, Double Honour is finally taken to land the Queen Alexandra with Windermere and Pugin rated the main dangers. The last mentioned failed to stay in the Gold Cup behind Mr Dinos last year and was beaten behind Papineau at Goodwood last time but has a tough of class about him. Similar comments apply to Brian Meehan's Savannah Bay, who has claims on his best but has disappointed so far this term. Amanda Perrett's Big Moment has been running well over hurdles this winter and, along with Nicky Henderson's Dancing Bay who made a winning return to the flat at Haydock earlier this month, has to be respected. A bigger threat though may come from Ted Walsh's Windermere, who beat Irish St Leger winner Vinnie Roe in Listed race-company on his most recent start. A 5lb penalty for that success leaves the five-year-old with more to do here though and preference is for Double Honour. The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding was useful on the flat for Mark Johnston and has been in fine form over hurdles and fences since finishing third in this 12 months ago. Hobbs is quite capable of producing a horse fit after an absence and Double Honour is taken to resume winning ways on the level.
