held up mid-division to rear, 9th straight, smooth headway on outside from 3f out, led over 2f out, soon clear and hung left, easily
held up in mid-division, 7th on straight, not much room and squeezed through over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
held up in rear, last straight, never a factor
mid-division, 8th and ridden straight, weakened over 2f out
held up in rear, 14th straight, good headway on outside, went sharply left 2f out, continued to hang left and ran on to take 2nd over 1f out but no chance with easy winner
led, pressed from 3f out, headed over 2f out and weakened quickly
held up towards rear on inside, 10th and pushed along straight, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, 3rd straight, outpaced when not much room inside final 2f, stayed on to take 3rd just inside final furlong
held up in rear, ridden and 13th straight, never a factor
took keen hold, chased leader, challenged 3f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch on inside, 6th and ridden straight, weakened 3f out
held up in rear, disputing 14th straight, made headway final furlong, never reached leaders
in touch, 5th straight, ridden when hampered 2f out, never dangerous after
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, 11th straight, staying on when badly hampered 2f out, not recover
took keen hold, 4th straight, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
King's Head gets the vote in a very open race, with Merveilles, Stage Gift and Salute The General just a few more with claims. King's Head came back with a bang in the Esher Cup at Sandown, dead-heating with Yarqus. The latter has since run with credit in both the Chester Vase and Italian Derby, and so the Michael Jarvis inmate looks potentially well treated in his bid to double up. Stage Gift, Lake Poet and Merveilles met at Yarmouth just over three weeks ago, with Sir Michael Stoute's charge coming out on top thanks to his race-fitness. However, of the trio, Merveilles is the least exposed and gets a massive pull at the weights, so has to be respected. William Muir and Martin Dwyer teamed up successfully 12 months ago with Enforcer and now rely on Salute The General who was only beaten by the very useful Pearly King at Newbury last time. He saw too much daylight that day and with a bit more cover is another that is set to make his presence felt. Gracechurch and Burnbank do not look badly treated either and will garner each-way support, but in a tricky opener we return to King's Head as the answer.
Stage Gift (IRE) 6-4fav (9-0) Keen in touch, chased leader 6f out, led 2f out, ran on, comfortably, won at Yarmouth 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) gf in May beating Lake Poet (8-11) by 2l, 7 ran.
King's Head (IRE) 11-2 (8-7) Held up racing keenly, headway from 2f out, chased leader final furlong, finished strongly to dead-heat on line, won at Sandown 1m 3yo hcp (2) gd in Apr deadheating with Yarqus (8-4), 8 ran.
Regal Royale 15-2 (8-8) Held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on, nearest finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Dunelight (8-6) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (2) gf in May.
London Express (IRE) 3-1 (9-0) Led, joined after 2f, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened 2f out, 4th of 5, 9l behind Championship Point (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 3f 3yo lst stk (1) gd in May.
Military Cross 9-1 (9-2) Raced centre, held up in touch, weakened well over 1f out, 7th of 9, 9l behind Levera (9-2) at Newmarket 7f 3yo hcp (2) sft in May.
Genari 8-1 (8-11) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 4l behind Tam Lin (8-11) at Hamilton 1m 3f 3yo lst stk (1) gd in May.
Punta Galera (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 10, 4l behind Layazaal (9-7) at Goodwood 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) sft in May.
Lake Poet (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, bumped by rival, rallied to lead close on, won at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp (2) gs in May beating Idarah (8-7) by a hd, 8 ran.
Merveilles 7-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, headway from over 2f out, ridden and edged left from 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Stage Gift (9-0) at Yarmouth 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) gf in May.
Road To Love (IRE) 7-2fav (8-13) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 17, 9l behind Genre (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 2yo hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Nihal (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Held up, pushed along over 4f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 7, 7l behind Stage Gift (9-0) at Yarmouth 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) gf in May.
Gracechurch (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) In touch, weakened well over 2f out, 7th of 12, 11l behind Reem Three (8-11) at York 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) gs in May.
Salute The General 10-1 (8-4) Held up, headway 5f out, led over 2f out, driven and kept on until headed and not pace of winner inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Pearly King (9-2) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) sft in May.
Charlie Tokyo (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Held up, ridden, headway over 2f out, not much room over 1f out, no impression after, 6th of 12, 7l behind Reem Three (8-11) at York 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) gs in May.
Burnbank (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Held up mid-division, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd near finish, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Airbuss (9-1) at Epsom 1m 1f 3yo hcp (5) gd in Apr.
