slowly into stride, soon chasing winner, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, always held by winner
held up in touch, pushed along and weakened over 3f out
slowly into stride, prominent, went 4th over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
held up mid-division, weakened over 4f out, tailed off over 3f out
chased leaders and keen, pushed along over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no impression
chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, effort and some headway over 1f out, soon weakened
made all, pushed along over 3f out, ridden clear over 1f out, kept on well
chased leaders, soon mid-division, weakened over 3f out, tailed off over 1f out
held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
in rear, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
slowly away, held up towards rear, effort over 2f out, some headway, no impression
held up mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, weakened 3f out
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, went 4th over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
dwelt, held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
TASTAHIL ended last season with an impressive victory in the Group 3 Jockey Club Cup and has won on his seasonal debut before. Barry Hills' charge looks likely to lay down the gauntlet to today's rivals in the homestretch, just as he did last year when only Mamlook proved good enough to catch him in a thrilling finish. The latter re-opposes on slightly worse terms but there's no reason why he shouldn't make another bold bid, while Halla San makes his fourth bid to land this prize having finished third in the last two. La Vecchia Scuola finished second just ahead of Plymouth Rock in last year's Cesarewitch with Sentry Duty, Red Cadeaux, Swingkeel and Admiral Barry behind and is a tempting each-way proposition, as is Irish raider and last year's Ebor winner Dirar. He beat Darley Sun at York where Overturn ran no sort of race having won the Northumberland Plate on his previous start. Mount Athos has attracted support ante-post but will need luck in-running from his outside draw.
Tastahil (IRE) 10-3 (9-0) Tracked leader, brought main group to race center and led halfway, ridden 3f out, driven and ran on gamely, won at Newmarket 2m Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct beating Motrice (8-1) by 5l, 8 ran.
Dirar (IRE) 2-1 (9-2) Held up in touch, soon tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 4l behind King Olav (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f cnd stks (4yo+) (4) pol in Feb.
Red Cadeaux 9-1 (9-10) Led, ridden over 2f out, clear over 1f out, edged left and headed inside final furlong, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Cosmic Sun (9-0) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Apr.
Sentry Duty (FR) 9-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, switched outside 4f out, not clear run 3f out, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 6th of 32, 4 1/2l behind Aaim To Prosper (7-13) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Darley Sun (IRE) 11-10fav (9-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd and took keen hold, went 2nd 2f out, ridden to challenge and upsides winner 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Ajaan (9-3) at Pontefract 2m 2f cond Stakes (3) sft in Oct.
Blue Bajan (IRE) 5-2fav (9-0) Held up in touch, pushed along 3f out, headway well over 1f out, ridden to lead 1f out, headed and unable to quicken final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, nk behind Mister New York (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f cnd stks (4yo+) (3) pol in Jan '10.
Mamlook (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along and not much room over 4f out, never dangerous, last of 19, well behind Overturn (8-7) at Newcastle 2m hcap (2) gf in Jun.
Montaff 8-1 (9-11) Held up in last pair, pushed along on inside 4f out, steady headway over 2f out, switched off rail and came between horses entering final furlong, stayed on to lead final 150 yards, won going away, won at Ripon 2m hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Apr beating Montparnasse (8-10) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Overturn (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Soon switched across from outside and led, headed over 5f out, weakened quickly over 4f out, eased right down, tailed off, last of 20, well behind Dirar (9-1) at York 1m 6f hcap (2) gd in Aug.
La Vecchia Scuola (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Close up on outside, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 22, 41l behind Times Up (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Admiral Barry (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Never better than mid-division, 27th of 32, well behind Aaim To Prosper (7-13) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Mount Athos (IRE) 6-1 (9-12) Mid-division, 8th halfway, headway in 5th 1 1/2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 60-100 pol in Apr beating Dreamy Gent (8-7) by 2l, 14 ran.
Plymouth Rock (IRE) 14-1 (9-8) In rear, ridden and headway 2f out, no impression after, 7th of 15, 14l behind Cosmic Sun (9-0) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Apr.
Swingkeel (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Towards rear, driven and headway when not clear run over 2f out and over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong, never able to to reach leaders, 10th of 32, 11l behind Aaim To Prosper (7-13) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Halla San 25-1 (9-7) In touch, driven and edged right over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Montaff (9-11) at Ripon 2m hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Apr.
Mystery Star (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Disputed 2nd until over 2f out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 8l behind Tominator (8-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
Icon Dream (IRE) 9-1 (8-8) Close up, ridden over 3f out, driven to chase winner over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Dandino (8-8) at Ripon 1m 4f stks (3) gf in Apr.
