held up towards rear, hampered when trying to improve over 3f out, kept on from over 1f out, not trouble leaders
dwelt, in rear, headway 3f out to be in touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up behind, badly hampered over 3f out, kept on again from over 1f out
held up mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, drew clear inside final furlong, eased close home
held up mid-division, ridden 6f out, weakened quickly 5f out, soon tailed off
soon tracked leader, ridden 5f out, weakening when badly hampered over 3f out, soon well behind and eased, tailed off
held up 4th, led narrowly 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up rear, headway wide over 2f out, strong run inside final furlong, just held close home
led until headed over 3f out, gradually weakened
tracked leaders, headway to lead over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened quickly 1f out
started slowly, ridden along in rear, headway wide to chase leaders 6f out, hung badly left over 3f out, weakened soon after
A good line-up for the Rose Bowl in which we will side with Danelor but the likes of Compton Bolter, Blythe Knight, Persian Lightning and Counsel's Opinion are all entitled to a lot of respect. The selection was touched off in this race last year by the subsequently Group-placed Akshar. Given that he races from just a two-pound higher mark today and his stable is now in form following an infection-induced shutdown, his chance is there for all to see. Guilded Flyer has been raised six pounds for a very good Chester win and the form has a solid look to it, although he will need to improve again to score, while much as Persian Lightning is now rated ten-pounds higher than for his latest win, he has run some very good races from his current mark, including when second to the subsequent Henry II Stakes winner, Papineau, and subsequent Group winner Bandari on his last two starts. Expect him to go well. Counsel's Opinion comes here on the back of a very good third in Kempton's Roseberry Stakes, a race in which he beat Blythe Knight - who is now six pounds worse off, although he ran as though he needed the outing on that occasion - by a neck. It could well be close between them again, while topweight Compton Bolter comes firmly into the reckoning based on his fine second to Alkaadhem at Goodwood in Listed company last time. Shahzan House, who wears cheekpieces for the first time today, is just two pounds better off for the five lengths he finished behind Blythe Knight over today's course and distance in April, although the former does seem at his best on easy going. The latter has held his form well and, rated just four pound higher than when winning here, can go well again. Rocket Force has been disappointing since finishing second to Sabre d'Argent at Newmarket last May but is another to have first time headgear fitted, in his case a visor, and while Sir George Turner hinted at a return to his former self at Redcar on Saturday, others are preferred today. Both Desert Quest and St Pancras are blinkered for the first time today, which could bring about improvement but, overall, we will side with Danelor.
