held up in mid-division on outside, ridden on outside over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
raced wide 3f, with leaders, led after 7f, narrowly headed over 2f out, chased winner and kept trying, held towards finish
led 7f, tracked leader, every chance 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up in rear, ridden and struggling 3f out
always prominent, challenged 3f out, led over 2f out, kept on gamely for pressure when preesed through out final furlong, stayed on well, in command towards finish
always rear-division, ridden and struggling 4f out
held up towards rear, ridden along 3f out, no real progress
chased leaders, ridden on inside over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, plugged on one pace
mid-division on outside, reminders over 5f out, ridden and struggling 3f out
held up towards rear, some headway over 2f out, never reached leaders
towards rear, pushed along over 6f out, soon lost place, tailed off
held up well in rear, headway on wide outside over 2f out, one pace final 2f, never reached leaders
mid-division, switched right and headway 2f out, driven and no impression final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, went 3rd 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
close up on inside, ridden 2f out, plugged on one pace final furlong
always in rear
chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out
The ratings point to a big run from Munsef and he's not easily overlooked but we prefer AAJEL in what looks a tricky end to a fantastic meeting. Michael Jarvis has his string in decent form and his horse is better than he showed at York last time when behind Tactician, although that one's run on Thursday should still be viewed with interest. Prior to that he'd been given a fine ride here over two miles when just reeled in by a horse with a better turn of foot and this strapping individual looks set to be suited by the stamina test faced here; quick ground holds no fears and he must go well. He's just preferred to Munsef who owes punters nothing. Ian Williams's charge was a long way ahead of our pick at York and prior to that took third behind Harbinger, advertising his wellbeing, so this former Group Three winner isn't overlooked lightly. However, he's never won beyond 1m5f and our feeling is his stamina will be stretched beyond breaking point. Bergo relishes quick ground and had a fine winter jumping before making a fair return to the flat at Newbury. Perhaps now seven this horse needs a trip and he has won at 2m5f over fences, so this consistent type who has won 10 of his 21 starts may continue to pay his way with a big run having gone well at the track before. Starfala shaped as though in need of a trip when behind Munsef last time and may bridge the gap but she is yet to win on turf and this is a tough race to be doing so; being out of a Linamix mare she may want some cut too. Deutschland is a versatile and talented dual-purpose horse whose efforts prior to bombing out last time had been good. He's won on both extremes of ground and the Irish had the Gold Cup winner on Thursday; it'd be little surprise were they to have another as this is one horse who definitely will stay. Caracciola should've come on a bundle for running in Tactic's race and took this last year, but in all likelihood Sentry Duty is Nicky Henderson's main hope. He's rated 160 over timber and is capable of winning races on the flat too; he's won here over hurdles and is best fresh so his absence is no concern. Swingkeel is in the right hands to progress and ran a cracker in the Chester Cup last time so despite having plenty to do at the weights he should acquit himself well whilst Ringaroses needs a market check on his first foray into flat racing having landed a competitive handicap hurdle last time but we are prepared to give Aajel another chance.
Caracciola (GER) 10-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, pushed along over 7f out, weakened over 5f out, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Tactic (9-0) at York 1m 6f Listed stks (1) gf in May.
Aajel (USA) 9-4fav (9-0) Led, headed over 4f out, hung left well over 2f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Tactic (9-0) at York 1m 6f Listed stks (1) gf in May.
Baddam 4-1 (9-10) Led until 9f out, chased winner until 6f out, close up under pressure until weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Callisto Moon (9-12) at Bath 2m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
Balkan Knight 28-1 (9-2) Steadied start, held up in 8th, switched left over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, never going pace to trouble leaders, 6th of 9, 6l behind Akmal (9-0) at Sandown 2m Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
Bergo (GER) 11-1 (8-12) Led until over 3f out, stayed well there, stayed on same pace final 2f, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Claremont (8-12) at Newbury 1m 5f Listed stks (1) gf in May.
Casual Garcia 12-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 17l behind Rotative (10-0) at Goodwood 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Deutschland (USA) 15-2 (9-1) Pressed leader, pushed along 4f out, challenging under pressure 3f out, weakened well over 1f out, last of 5, 17l behind Askar Tau (9-4) at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Hollins 9-1 (9-4) Mid-division of main group, closed on leaders 8f out, headway 3f out, led 2f out, ridden clear final furlong, won at York 2m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May beating Smugglers Bay (8-11) by 6l, 13 ran.
Kid Charlemagne (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Pushed along to soon chase leaders, led 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed and not pace of winner over 1f out, stayed on to hold 2nd, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Theology (8-9) at Goodwood 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gd in May.
Midas Way 33-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, some headway when hung right approaching 2f out, 10th of 20, 17l behind Judgethemoment (9-5) at Royal Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gf in Jun '09.
Munsef 13-2 (9-0) In touch, not much room and lost place after 2f, headway over 5f out, ridden and every chance 3f out, outpaced by winner inside final 2f, 2nd of 10, 14l behind Tactic (9-0) at York 1m 6f Listed stks (1) gf in May.
Prince Picasso 11-2 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, headway 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Dazzling Light (8-13) at Chester 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in May.
Ringaroses 10-1 (11-0) In touch on inner, hampered 2nd, headway approaching 9th to track leaders, led after 2 out, stayed on well to clear from last, won at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Apr beating Carsonstown Boy (11-0) by 6l, 21 ran.
Sentry Duty (FR) 16-1 (9-7) In touch, ridden 4f out, soon weakened, 15th of 17, well behind Bulwark (9-4) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in May '08.
Swingkeel (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Hampered after 1f, mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon ridden, edged left and stayed on to chase leaders inside final furlong, 5th of 17, 1 3/4l behind Mamlook (8-12) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in May.
Starfala 8-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, headway under pressure over 4f out, never on terms with leaders, stayed on same pace from 2f out, 5th of 10, 23l behind Tactic (9-0) at York 1m 6f Listed stks (1) gf in May.
Star of Pompey 33-1 (8-10) Towards rear, headway and in touch halfway, one pace final 2f, 7th of 11, 9l behind On Terms (9-2) at Goodwood 2m hcp 0-70 (5) gd in May.
Sweetheart 7-2 (9-10) Held up in 6th, pushed along 5f out, outpaced over 4f out, soon struggling, 6th of 9, 18l behind On Terms (9-4) at Folkestone 2m hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
