held up well in rear, moderate headway final furlong, never in contention
took keen hold in touch, hampered on inside over 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong
held up in touch, ridden and hung left from 2f out, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, led going well 3f out, in command final 2f, ridden out
disputed lead, led 4f out, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened 2f out
slowly into stride, soon driven and in touch in rear, ridden on outside over 2f out, never a factor
chased leaders on outer, driven along over 3f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong
disputed lead to 4f out, weakened rapidly, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, soon ridden, no impression final 2f
Sir Arthur can beat his mainly older rivals in the finale, with Inchloch, Prime Contender and Burgundy just three more in with a shout. The final race on the card looks pretty wide-open at first glance, but when Mark Johnston pitches a lowly-weighted three-year-old in against older horses at this time of the year, he normally pays to follow, and so Sir Arthur is the pick. The son of Desert Prince shaped like a progressive sort when making most to hang on at Beverley recently, despite edging to the left inside the final furlong. With that in mind, this track should suit, and he is expected to force the pace and make all under Joe Fanning. There are any number of potential rivals, headed by Inchloch who came from behind to score at Nottingham last time. He has more to offer as well, but may find that the bird has flown when he mounts his challenge. There has to be a slight question mark over Prime Contender's ability to handle fast ground, but he was a close enough second at Chester to be on the short-list here. Burgundy goes well her but has more on his plate than when landing an apprentice affair at Kempton, as do both hat-trick seeking Dove Cottage and the selection's fellow three-year-old Fire Two. We shall take Sir Arthur to make all.
Inchloch 16-1 (8-5) Held up, ridden and headway on outer over 2f out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Jun beating Kova Hall (9-1) by a nk, 16 ran.
Secretary General (IRE) 9-2 (9-13) Slowly into stride, headway to mid-division after 2f, ridden over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, stayed under pressure final furlong, 4th of 10, 6l behind Snowed Under (9-5) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Magic Sting 14-1 (9-7) Held up in mid-division, effort 2f out, soon one pace, 6th of 10, 6l behind Snowed Under (9-5) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Dove Cottage (IRE) 6-5fav (9-4) Led, headed 5f out, led again over 3f out, clear 2f out, driven out, won at Chepstow 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun beating Dareneur (8-3) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Burgundy 7-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, towards rear, headway over 4f out, carried wide over 2f out, soon ridden, ran on strongly to lead final 50 yds, ridden out, won at Kempton 1m 2f app hcp (4) pol in Jun beating Let Slip (8-13) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Prime Contender 5-1 (8-10) Soon led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 8, nk behind Lucayan Dancer (9-3) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.
Sir Arthur (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Pushed along to chase leader, led after 2f, ridden over 2f out, kept on under pressure to lead post, won at Beverley 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) gf in Jun beating Princess Cocoa (8-6) by a shd, 10 ran.
Fire Two 9-1 (8-11) Pushed along to chase leaders, ridden over 3f out chased winner over 1f out, no impression, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Days of My Life (9-0) at Beverley 1m 3yo hcp (3) gf in Jun.
