in rear, progress early straight and ridden in 3rd 1f out, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong
led, ridden and joined over 1f out, under pressure and led again 100 yards out, headed close home
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along 2f out and no impression over 1f out, no extra final furlong
ran 5th, pushed along entering straight and soon no impression, ridden in 6th over 1f out, kept on one pace
ran 6th, ridden in rear 2f out and no extra over 1f out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, progress 2f out and ridden to dispute over 1f out, under pressure and headed 100 yards out, no extra
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, ridden 2f out, under pressure and no impression in 4th 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong to lead close home
ark Johnston brought FIRE FIGHTING here for a Listed contest in 2015 and he won very impressively. He continued to perform with credit at a high level subsequently and he's clear on official ratings so gets the nod despite being without a run since August. Sanus Per Aquam won the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket in 2015 but only ran twice last year. He won first time out as a juvenile so the long absence may not be too much of a problem. Elleval has only recently returned from Dubai where he ran five times on Turf at Meydan. He picked up some decent place money but has never been a prolific winner and hasn't scored since a victory on Tapeta at that track over three years ago. Andrew Balding's Elbereth was narrowly beaten in the John Smith's Cup at York in July before placed efforts in Group 3 events abroad while Stronger Than Me likes it around here and landed a tough handicap in November. Pique Sous, who won the Queen Alexander Stakes in 2014, hasn't had much racing subsequently and it will be a surprise if he has the pace for this.
Elleval (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) 10th of 12, 7 3/4l behind Decorated Knight (9-0) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 1 gd in Mar.
Fire Fighting (IRE) 9-2 (9-8) Held up, ridden over 3f out, effort over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Berkshire (9-3) at Windsor 1m 4f lst stks (1) gf in Aug.
Pique Sous (FR) 9-2 (9-3) Held up in 5th, headway 2f out, 3rd over 1f out, stayed on, unable to get on terms, 3rd of 6, 5 1/4l behind Watersmeet (9-3) at Chelmsford City 2m stks (2) pol in Mar.
Sanus Per Aquam (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Held up in last, pushed along over 3f out, soon ridden, trailing 2f out, no impression, went moderate 4th close home, 4th of 5, 9l behind Sir Isaac Newton (9-9) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 3 stks gd in Jun.
Shalaman (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Rear of mid-division, pushed along 2f out, ridden in 10th on outer over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 3 1/4l behind Song Of Love (8-12) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Feb.
Stronger Than Me (IRE) 11-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, progress to lead under 2f out, ridden and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov beating Political Policy (9-10) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Elbereth (9-0) 3rd of 7, 3l behind Ventura Storm (8-12) at San Siro 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
