in rear and in touch, pushed along over 4f out, weakened over 1f out, soon eased
led early, tracked leader, led over 2f out, clear over 1f out
soon led, headed over 2f out, soon outpaced and lost 2nd place over 2f out, kept on to regain 2nd place inside final furlong, no chance with winner
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd over 2f out, kept on and lost 2nd place inside final furlong, no extra
ROYAL LINE perhaps did not live up expectations after landing his first two starts but his final run of the season, when beaten under five lengths when seventh of 23 in the November Handicap here, was no mean effort for a horse with just three previous runs to his name. John Gosden has stressed he was always likely to make a better four-year-old and he is taken to start making up for lost time now. Saigon City is likely to find this too sharp but Max Liebermann remains unexposed and did win a Southwell jumpers' bumper latest, though will need to take a huge step forward to figure in a race like this. Neither Great Hall nor Across The Stars will lack for fitness and it is the latter who's nominated as the main danger on the back of a decent effort in Meydan last time.
Great Hall 12-1 (9-6) Held up, effort 3f out, pressing for 2nd over 1f out, no impression on winner, 3rd and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 11 1/4l behind Dal Harraild (9-9) at Chelmsford City 2m stks (2) pol in Mar.
Saigon City 15-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Magic Circle (9-2) at York 2m hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Across The Stars (IRE) 18-1 (9-2) 6th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Kidmenever (9-6) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Mar.
Royal Line 5-1fav (8-9) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, hung left and headed inside final furlong, no extra, 7th of 23, 4 1/4l behind Saunter (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Max Liebermann (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Tracked leader, led 7f out, clear final 2f, eased towards finish, won at Southwell 2m (4) pol in Mar beating Brotherly Company (11-4) by 9l, 6 ran.