held up, steady headway after 4th, one pace from last
keen, headway 4 out, one pace from 2 out
keen, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, mistake 4 out, ridden next, mistake 2 out and weakened
tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed after 2 out one pace last
in touch, weakened after 4th
mid-division, weakened after 4th, soon tailed off
prominent, led after 1st, slow 2nd and soon headed, weakened 3 out
held up, keen, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened soon after
led, jumped slowly 1st, soon headed, led again 3rd, headed three out, weakened 2 out
hard ridden when switched left 2 out, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, led after 2 out, run on, ridden out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden and kept on, pressed winner from last, no extra towards finish
There are some lightly-raced types in opposition here and the narrow vote is given to HIVIKOS who is preferred to Queen Fellow and Sagredo. The selection hails from the Paul Nicholls yard and he has shown some decent form in France. He is making his British debut today but he will handle the cut in the ground and if the market speaks in his favour then it could pay to take the hint. Queen Fellow is another making his British debut, but he will need to step-up on what he has shown so far to get his head in front, although there is every chance that Phillip Hobbs will have worked his magic on this unexposed 4-year-old. It is also worth noting that Hobbs won this race last year. Sagredo was a fair sort on the flat and he gave the impression that he was in need of the run on his hurdling debut at Cheltenham last month. He did shape with encouragement in that race though and with the promise of more to come he has to be on the shortlist. Unfurled is from a yard in good form so he can't be dismissed lightly. However Hivikos could be a smart prospect and he gets the vote.
Broughton Green (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Raced wide, always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Earth Planet (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Mar, 12 ran.
Carson's Spirit (USA) 66-1 (10-12) Held up behind, headway 3 out, stayed on well from 2 out to chase clear winner, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Ashkazar (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Friendly King 7-2 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway from over 5f out, challenged and hung left from over 2f out, led over 1f out, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 1f nhf (5) gd in Apr beating Santia (10-9) by 1l, 12 ran.
Gunner Rose 33-1 (10-12) Held up, brief effort approaching 4 out, 8th of 11, well behind Alderluck (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Hivikos (FR) (10-3) Prominent, stayed on under pressure, 3rd of 20, 7l behind Brave Mansonnien (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 2f 4yo hdl in Mar '07.
Horsham Lad (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, kept on same pace under pressure from over 1f out, took 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Vacario (10-9) at Hereford 1m 5f nhf (6) gd in Feb.
Junior Jimble (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, 8th of 15, 19l behind McMurrough (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (6) gf in May.
Lennox Gardens 14-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden over 5f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 16, 21l behind Fistral Beach (10-13) at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Apr.
Painter Man (FR) 11-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led 4th, not fluent 4 out, ridden and joined next, headed soon after, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Leading Contender (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov '06.
Peacefull Waters (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Chased leader, ridden and weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, well behind Darstardly Dick (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Sagredo (USA) 15-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, hit 2 out, never dangerous, 7th of 13, 20l behind Dee Ee Williams (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Secret Tune 16-1 (8-7) Chased leaders until 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 17l behind Tungsten Strike (9-12) at Goodwood 1m 6f lst stk (1) gd in Aug '07 (Flat).
Sweet World 100-1 (10-11) Pulled hard, held up in rear, mistake 3rd and 5th, some headway when blundered badly 2 out, never dangerous, 8th of 16, 28l behind Hunters Ploy (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Unfurled (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, chased leader, jumped right 1st, led 3 out, hit 2 out, soon headed, weakened approaching last, 9th of 13, 23l behind Dee Ee Williams (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Shali San (FR) 11-2 (10-5) Raced freely, led, clear 2nd until not fluent 6th, not fluent next, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 11l behind Take Me There (10-12) at Southwell 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Queen Fellow (FR) (9-13) Prominent, ran on under pressure, 4th of 13, 4l behind Qualanke (9-6) at Clairefontaine 1m 4f stk sft in Oct '07 (Flat).