chased leading trio, went 3rd 3f out, ridden 2f out, switched left over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, closed on winner closing stages, always held
started slowly, held up last, went modest 5th 2f out, never involved
held up in last pair, headway on inside to 4th over 2f out, shaken up and no progress over 1f out
took keen hold, tracked leading pair, went 2nd over 4f out, every chance 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace and no impression when weakened to 3rd inside final furlong
tracked winner, pushed along 5f out, lost 2nd over 4f out, weakened 3f out, eased when no chance final 2f, tailed off
made all, joined 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on gamely
Sumani beat Shirataki at Kempton in February before the latter caught his rivals napping and pinched a race at the same track last month. Both have turned in poor runs since, however, while the likes of Royal Defence and Dove Cottage produced their best efforts in lesser company last year and will find this tougher. Iron Condor looks high enough in the weights on his return to the Flat and a chance is taken on SWIFT BLADE. He's yet to win but Lady Herries' charge showed with placed efforts over shorter trips at Newbury and Salisbury last season that he's up to winning at this level and today's extra distance may also bring about improvement.
Iron Condor 4-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 9, 7l behind Becausewecan (9-10) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Bussa 28-1 (9-0) Led 1f, tracked leader, lost place over 5f out, soon in rear, last of 8, 27l behind Archie Rice (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Swift Blade (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, ridden on outside over 2f out, head high and not run on, 9th of 13, 11l behind Doncosaque (8-13) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Oct.
Shirataki (IRE) 5-2fav (9-1) Took keen hold, held up in 4th, effort 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 6, 10l behind Shalambar (9-1) at Kempton 1m 4f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
Sumani (FR) 9-2 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 23l behind Frederick William (9-4) at Kempton 2m hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
Dove Cottage (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Prominent, led over 12f out, headed 4f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 13, 23l behind Green Lightning (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Sep.
Royal Defence (IRE) 11-2 (8-12) Chased leader, led 8f out, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final 2f, no chance with winner final furlong, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Warneford (9-3) at Leicester 1m 4f Classified Claiming Stakes (0-70) (3-5yo) (6) gd in Oct.
