raced keenly, led, headed entering final 2f, soon hung left and lost 2nd, weakened final furlong
held up towards rear, headway on outside over 1f out, went modest 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along and unable to quicken over 3f out, ridden inside final 2f, no impression and dropped to 4th inside final furlong
held up last, pushed along and struggling over 3f out, beaten when hung right over 2f out, behind and eased final furlong
wore hood to post, tracked leader until 5f out, tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
raced keenly in last pair, pushed along over 3f out, soon ridden and no response
steadied start, raced keenly, held up towards rear, smooth headway between horses over 2f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, sustained challenge and edged right final furlong, won on the nod
tracked leaders, going well enough over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
tracked leaders, went 2nd 5f out, led entering final 2f, ridden and strongly pressed when edged left final furlong, lost on the nod
Country will likely make another bold bid having won at Newmarket last time with the Haggas charge preferred to stablemate Dal Horrisgle. Almania placed over 1m6f here on his debut for David O’Meara but is creeping up the weights despite not winning and a chance is taken on SAM COOKE. The latter placed at Newmarket on his return from a lengthy absence when only fading in the closing stages and will be sharper today back over his winning trip. The winner of the Duke Of Edinburgh handicap here back in 2018, Dash Of Spice has something to prove now having struggled behind the selection while the returning Mandarin finished a close-up third in a Shergar Cup race here last year and has switched yards since.
Dash Of Spice 40-1 (9-8) Keen, led, ridden and headed entering final 2f, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 16l behind Cape Coast (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp (2) sft in Jul.
Koeman (9-0) last of 9, 10 1/4l behind Secret Advisor (9-0) at Meydan 1m 6f Grp 3 gd in Feb.
Almania (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Held up in last pair, good headway on wide outside over 2f out, chasing leaders and hung right 2f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, never any chance with winner, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 16, 4 1/4l behind Fujaira Prince (9-4) at Ascot 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Protected Guest 50-1 (9-4) Held up in mid-division, ridden on outside over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never dangerous, 7th of 14, 10l behind Scarlet Dragon (9-2) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gs in Jun.
Dal Horrisgle 9-2 (9-6) Tracked winner, pushed along over 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 5, 10l behind Desert Icon (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Country 5-1 (9-3) Keen led 2f, remained prominent under stand side rail, ridden to lead entering final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jul beating Frontispiece (8-11) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Jeremiah 33-1 (9-0) Dwelt in rear, ridden 3f out, never nearer, 8th of 16, 5 1/4l behind Deja (9-10) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Jul.
Mandarin (GER) 7-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f, 13th of 16, 10 3/4l behind Tamreer (8-8) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Sam Cooke (IRE) 7-2fav (8-10) In touch, wide and headway 2f out, ridden and no impression when edged left inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 4 3/4l behind Cape Coast (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp (2) sft in Jul.
