soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly away in rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, not quite reach winner
in touch, wide and headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, all out
prominent, weakened 2f out, eased
raced wide held up, ridden 2f out, never on terms
mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
close up, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, tailed off
held up, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up, ridden 2f out, headway entering final furlong, nearest finish
dwelt held up, headway and switched left 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
close up, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra towards finish
close up, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headway inside final furlong, ran on
in rear, never on terms
prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, pushed along and headway over 3f out, weakened final furlong
NonRunner
Last month’s Newmarket winner Baghdad beat Corgi to land the King George V handicap at this meeting last year and will attract support with Ryan Moore taking over the reins. Corgi re-opposes on better terms but finished behind FUJAIRA PRINCE when the latter was narrowly beaten at York on his first start over 1m4f with Collide back in fourth. Roger Varian’s grey has only had the five outings so far and gets the vote with plenty more to come over today’s distance. Ben Vrackie returns to action for the Gosden yard with something to prove off his current mark while Secret Advisor was placed in the Queen’s Vase here in 2017 but hasn’t raced since winning the Melrose at York in the same year. Lucius Tiberius and Irish raider Downdraft were both well beaten by Baghdad here last season and the latter’s stable companion Arthurian Fame is preferred while the unexposed Johnny Drama won easily at Roscommon last time but is 13lb higher today.
Byron Flyer 25-1 (9-7) Led, headed over 4f out, driven to lead again 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on under pressure, no extra and held final 50 yards, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Soto Sizzler (8-5) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Ben Vrackie 16-1 (9-5) Raced wide in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Rock Eagle (8-7) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Oct.
Baghdad (FR) 9-4fav (9-8) Keen close up, pushed along over 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, ridden and stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in May beating Corelli (9-3) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Pivoine (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Raced keenly, held up in last pair, plugged on final furlong, never any chance, 4th of 7, 6l behind Crystal Ocean (9-3) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May.
Spark Plug (IRE) 9-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Watersmeet (9-5) at Lingfield 2m stks (2) pol in Apr.
Secret Advisor (FR) 5-1fav (9-2) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway when switched inside over 2f out, soon chased leaders, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Bin Battuta (9-4) by nk, 19 ran.
Aquarium 7-1 (9-6) Held up behind, outpaced on outside 3f out, ridden over 2f out, never able to get involved, 10th of 11, 10 1/2l behind Soto Sizzler (8-5) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Lethal Steps 12-1 (10-0) Mid-division and not fluent 1st, 10th from halfway, good progress on inner before 2 out and soon pushed along in 5th, no impression and kept on same pace from last, 5th of 16, 12 1/4l behind Sole Pretender (11-7) at Ballinrobe 2m 4f hcp gd in May.
Lucius Tiberius (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3f out, led 2f out, headed over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, stayed on, closing on winner close home, 2nd of 11, nk behind Uae Prince (9-6) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in May.
Sevenna Star (IRE) 50-1 (9-1) Led, headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 18 1/2l behind Stradivarius (9-4) at York 1m 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in May.
Top Tug (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) Steadied start, held up last, kept on final furlong, never any chance, 5th of 7, 6 1/4l behind Crystal Ocean (9-3) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May.
Arthurian Fame (IRE) 10-3fav (10-10) Raced in 9th early, took closer order approaching halfway, headway and effort straight, led over 1f out, kept on well inside final furong, won at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in May beating Take A Turn (8-12) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Collide 12-1 (9-3) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 18, 2 1/2l behind First Eleven (9-9) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in May.
Downdraft (IRE) 11-2 (10-1) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 2f out and 14th 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never a factor, 9th of 18, 6 1/4l behind Insignia Of Rank (9-8) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp gf in May.
Corgi 8-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 18, 2 1/2l behind First Eleven (9-9) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in May.
Fujaira Prince (IRE) 7-2fav (9-0) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on gamely, held near finish, 2nd of 18, nk behind First Eleven (9-9) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in May.
Kasperenko 16-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, behind, rapid headway on wide outside 3f out, led 2f out, clear when ridden over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 1m 4f lst stks (1) pol in Nov beating Architecture (8-13) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Johnny Drama (IRE) 10-11fav (9-11) Made all, pushed along 2f out, asserted over 1f out, kept on strongly to go clear inside final furlong, eased closing stages, won at Roscommon 1m 2f hcp gd in May beating Charcor (9-12) by 7l, 4 ran.
Temple Church (IRE) 40-1 (9-3) Always towards rear, ridden over 2f out, eased when no chance inside final furlong, last of 23, dist behind Royal Line (9-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Sea The Lion (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders on outside, ridden over 2f out, 3rd and one pace final furlong, 3rd of 20, 5l behind Muntahaa (9-9) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
