soon led, reminder halfway, hanging left when headed approaching 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching 2f out, briefly headed inside final furlong, rallied to regain lead final 100 yards, won going away
held up in rear, ridden and struggling straight
held up towards rear, 7th on outside straight, effort over 2f out, soon no impression on leaders
took keen hold, held up torwards rear, hampered and stumbled badly over 4f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not recover
took keen hold, edged left over 4f out, 9th and ridden straight, soon beaten
always in rear
held up in rear, 12th straight, good headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
in touch, 11th and weakening straight
in touch on outside, 6th straight, one pace final 2f
held up in mid-division, 5th on inside straight, hanging left from over 1f out, stayed on to take 3rd, no impression inside final furlong
held up in rear, 8th straight, driven on inside over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, 4th straight, ridden 3f out and weakened quickly
Regal Flush gets the narrowest of votes over Buccellati, with Duke Of Tuscany, Zaham and Ekhtiaar all lively dangers. The opener on Derby day is not the easiest to predict, but Sir Michael Stoute has won two of the last three runnings of this event, and we shall nominate Regal Flush to add to his record. Sporting the red colours of the Cheveley Park Stud, the colt bids to turn the tables on three of those ahead of him in a similar contest at Newbury a fortnight ago when he was continually denied a clear run, having to be switched to make his effort before finding the sands of time against him. He ended up in sixth place, not far behind the winner Zaham, Duke Of Tuscany, and Buccellati, and on today's terms, has a good chance of making amends. Buccellati has more or less the same chance as the selection on paper, and in truth it could well be that the one that gets the most trouble-free run from those mentioned that comes out on top. Of the remainder, Ekhtiaar was a progressive juvenile, and if anywhere near fit, may make a bigger impression than stablemate Bergonzi, but we shall stick with Regal Flush, the beaten favourite at Newbury, to get the losses back under Kerrin McEvoy.
Duke of Tuscany 20-1 (9-5) Led after 1f, strongly pressed and kept on well from 2f out, headed 1f out, held towards finish but kept on well for 2nd, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Zaham (8-11) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gs in May.
Zaham (USA) 4-1 (8-11) Keen hold early, close up in 5th, headway from 2f out, led 1f out, driven out, won at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gs in May beating Duke of Tuscany (9-5) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Putra Square 15-2 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, staying on same pace when edged left inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Al Tharib (9-3) at Chester 1m 2f 3yo mdn (3) gd in May.
Regal Flush 2-1fav (9-1) Held up towards rear, not clear run briefly inside final 3f, stayed on inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 2l behind Zaham (8-11) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gs in May.
Ekhtiaar 4-9fav (9-4) Close up, tracked leading pair 2f out, challenge and hung left final furlong, ran on to lead final strides, won at Lingfield 7f nov stk (4) pol in Oct beating Deadshot Keen (9-2) by a hd, 6 ran.
Billy Dane (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Pulled hard, always prominent, hung left from over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Tobosa (9-7) at Haydock 1m 3yo hcp (2) gf in May.
Jeer (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden 4f out, headway 3f out, chased winner final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Spice Route (9-4) at York 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) gs in May.
Buccellati 13-2 (8-8) Held up, not clear run on rails from inside final 3f until switched right to wide outside just inside final 2f, nearest finish, 5th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Zaham (8-11) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gs in May.
Frosty Night (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden along over 2f out, one pace until weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 5l behind Manaal (8-5) at Ripon 1m 3yo hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Bergonzi (IRE) 7-4fav (9-4) Pressed leader, led halfway, driven and pressed final 2f, stayed on well last 100 yards, won at Windsor 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) gd in May beating Oakley Heffert (8-13) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Golden Dagger (IRE) 50-1 (8-11) Held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, hampered over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 8th of 13, 9l behind Zaham (8-11) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gs in May.
Bed Fellow (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, no impression, 9th of 14, 9l behind Spice Route (9-4) at York 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) gs in May.
Fever 9-2jt-fav (9-4) Tracked leaders, taken to far rail and led over 2f out, driven and ran on final furlong, joined post, won at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) gs in May deadheating with Maid To Believe (8-10), 14 ran.
Toccata (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Made all ridden and ran on inside final furlong, won at Warwick 1m 3f 3yo mdn (5) gs in May beating Set The Scene (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
