disputed lead, led narrowly 8f out, headed 3f out, weakened quickly
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, sustained challenged under pressure inside final furlong, went 2nd post
in touch on inside, still going well when badly hampered on rails over 2f out, not recover
keen hold, raced wide, held up in rear, headway on wide outside 3f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, stayed on same pace final 2f
always in rear, ridden, struggling straight, tailed off
mid-division, headway over 2f out, chasing leaders when not much room inside final furlong, weakened towards finish
held up in mid-division, headway from over 3f out, chased leaders straight, led 2f out, strongly pressed final furlong, stayed on gamely
rear division, headway on outside from 3f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, weakened, dropped to rear 5f out, tailed off
held up in rear division, headway into mid-division 5f out, effort over 3f out, chasing leaders, hung right from 2f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, driven along from 1 mile out, plugged on at one pace final 2f
chased leaders to 4f out, gradually weakened
tracked leaders, ridden along 5f out, weakening when not much room 3f out
raced in mid-division, ridden, weakening when hampered over 3f out
tracked leaders, ridden, weakening when not much room over 3f out
held up in rear division, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on to chase winner 1f out, lost 2nd post
in rear, hampered on inner 12f out, ridden, struggling 4f out, tailed off
led and disputed to 8f out, weakened over 4f out
As competitive as you would expect for the prize money on offer and from a shortlist of Grafton Street, Leg Spinner and Princelet, the vote goes to Grafton Street. Aidan O'Brien's four-year-old is facing some seasoned older rivals here but he looks progressive and having won at the Curragh last time out to reward favourite backers, he looks sure to run another big race. He proved that day that he can handle the hurly burly of a big field and assuming that he stays this marathon trip, he looks sure to give backers a good run for their money on ground that suits. Leg Spinner won this race in 2005 (when staged at York) and the Tony Martin-trained dual-performer should be watched for market confidence this time around. McEldowney finished fourth in this race last year and has claims once again, whilst Afrad, Nobelix, Scotland Yard, Princelet and Liss Ard are all dual-performers who cannot be ruled out. Raucous could go well at a price with his nice low racing weight, however we will return to Grafton Street for the winner.
Kasthari (IRE) 28-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, led after 3f, headed over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 10, 12l behind Colloquial (8-8) at Haydock 2m hcap (2) gf.
Juniper Girl (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden and one pace final 2f, 8th of 20, 9l behind Sentry Duty (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcap (2) gd in May.
Enjoy The Moment 14-1 (8-8) Held up, headway over 3f out, hung left over 1f out, ran on well towards finish, 3rd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Greenwich Meantime (9-2) at Chester 2m 3f hcap (2) gf in May.
Afrad (FR) 20-1 (9-1) With leader until over 9f out, ridden 5f out, weakening when hampered over 4f out, 16th of 17, well behind Greenwich Meantime (9-2) at Chester 2m 3f hcap (2) gf in May.
Odiham 16-1 (9-1) Held up in touch, hampered 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 17, 16l behind Greenwich Meantime (9-2) at Chester 2m 3f hcap (2) gf in May.
Grafton Street (IRE) 7-2fav (8-13) Mid-division, 10th halfway, headway early straight, led over 1f out, driven out, comfortably, won at Curragh 1m 4f hcp 0-100 gf in Apr beating Grand Revival (7-13) by 1l, 18 ran.
Leg Spinner (IRE) 9-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, headway over 3f out, led approaching final furlong, held on well under pressure, won at Royal Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gf in Jun '05 beating Golden Quest (8-12) by a hd, 20 ran.
Full House (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Held up in mid-division, good headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, clear, in command over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, easily, won at Goodwood 2m hcap (4) gd in May beating Noble Minstrel (8-8) by 4l, 15 ran.
Nobelix (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Prominent, switched to race centre and led group entering straight, ridden and every chance over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 15, 13l behind Mikao (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Sept.
Liss Ard (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Prominent, 5th halfway, effort entering straight, soon no extra, 9th of 17, 12l behind Clopf (9-4) at Tipperary 1m 6f stk gf in Apr.
Princelet (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Held up, steady headway on outside from 6f out, led, edged right 2f out, in command over 1f out, driven clear final furlong, won at Ascot 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May beating Ned Ludd (8-11) by 1l, 10 ran.
Winged d'Argent (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Led for 3f, chased leaders, ridden over 5f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 10, 20l behind Colloquial (8-8) at Haydock 2m hcap (2) gf.
Raslan 5-4fav (9-9) Led 1f, remained prominent, led 3f out, ridden over 2f out, wandered about over 1f out, clear when edged right inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Warwick 2m hcap (5) gd in Jul beating Trials 'n Tribs (8-9) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Melpomene 12-1 (8-8) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, soon ridden, chased leading pair well over 1f out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Colloquial (8-8) at Haydock 2m hcap (2) gf.
McEldowney 9-4fav (9-5) Chased leaders, every chance inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 6, 1/2l behind Trance (9-1) at Ayr 1m 7f hcap (4) gd in May.
Scotland Yard (UAE) 7-4 (8-7) Led 1f, tracked leader, switched wide over 4f out, switched inside and effort 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Nihal (8-5) at York 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Inchnadamph 25-1 (9-7) Behind, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous, 10th of 12, 20l behind Bollin Derek (8-12) at York 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in May.
Som Tala 7-1 (8-4) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, led over 3f out, soon headed, held when not much room and hampered over 1f out, one pace after, 5th of 17, 6l behind Greenwich Meantime (9-2) at Chester 2m 3f hcap (2) gf in May.
Adopted Hero (IRE) 25-1 (8-4) Always behind, never a factor, 14th of 16, 12l behind Nosferatu (8-12) at Epsom 1m 4f hcap (2) gd.
Raucous (GER) 5-1jt-fav (8-8) Led, headed 3f out, soon ridden, kept on one pace final 2f, 6th of 20, 5l behind Sentry Duty (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcap (2) gd in May.
