mid-division, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on final furlong
slow into stride, close up after 1f, headway entering final furlong, ridden and ran on, not reach winner
always in rear
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner approaching final furlong, kept on one pace
made all, ridden over 1f out, all out
pressed winner until ridden approaching final furlong, soon weakened
slow into stride outpaced, ridden halfway, kept on final furlong, never nearer
towards rear, ridden halfway, never on terms
raced wide close up, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong
NonRunner
NonRunner
NonRunner
El Astronaute's narrow-margin defeat of Majestic Hero at Newmarket has worked out well with the latter going on to score at Epsom a fortnight ago. Spring Loaded was progressive on the all-weather last year and can race off a 10lb lower mark back on this surface while Soie D'leau beat Confessional at Haydock last season but has a high draw to contend with in this. Course specialist Blithe Spirit has won five times here including a defeat of Powerallied last summer while Reflektor went close in both starts at the track last term. 2014 winner SIR MAXIMILIAN (NAP) had been competing at Meydan before landing a conditions race on last year’s card. He’s followed the same path this year and Ian Williams’ sprinter is expected to make another bold bid having placed in a tough handicap in Dubai last time.
Spring Loaded (IRE) 5-4 (9-2) Tracked leading pair, effort on inside over 1f out, every chance until winner quickened on by inside final furlong, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 5, 3l behind Pretend (9-2) at Kempton 6f stks (2) pol in Jan.
Taexali (IRE) 66-1 (9-9) Chased leaders on outer, ridden in 4th 2f out, soon no impression, 6th of 9, 4 3/4l behind Washington Dc (9-12) at Navan 5f lst stks (1) gd in Apr.
Majestic Hero (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Dwelt, tracked leading trio, switched left and headway over 1f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, won at Epsom 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Just That Lord (9-1) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Confessional 16-1 (8-9) Held up, ridden halfway, headway entering final furlong, ran on, nearest finish, 5th of 21, 3/4l behind Soie D'leau (8-13) at Doncaster 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
El Astronaute (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Keen led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, rallied to to lead again post, won at Newmarket 5f hcp (3) gf in Apr beating Majestic Hero (9-0) by shd, 11 ran.
Blithe Spirit 25-1 (9-2) Led 1f, chased leaders, weakened halfway, 12th of 13, 17 3/4l behind Priceless (9-5) at Bath 5f lst fll stks (1) fm in Apr.
Bossipop 33-1 (9-1) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 14, 12 1/4l behind Wentworth Falls (9-7) at Redcar 6f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Ballesteros 16-1 (9-1) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 11, 8l behind Alkhor (9-9) at Lingfield 6f hcp (4) pol in Apr.
Seamster 8-1 (9-4) Prominent, driven to lead over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Excessable (9-0) at Thirsk 5f hcp (4) gf in May.
Sir Maximilian (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Krypton Factor (9-1) at Meydan 6f hcp gd in Feb.
Soie D'leau 6-1 (8-13) Pressed leader, every chance 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Sir Robert Cheval (8-11) at Newbury 5f hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Reflektor (IRE) 3-1fav (9-3) Prominent, outpaced 3f out, weakened from over 1f out, 8th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Hoof It (9-4) at Haydock 6f hcp (2) sft in Jul.
Powerallied (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Towards rear, outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous, 10th of 13, 7 1/4l behind Edward Lewis (9-3) at Beverley 5f hcp (3) gf in Apr.
