chased leaders, ridden to challenge 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden and slightly hampered over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked winner, challenged over 2f out, took narrow advantage entering final furlong, kept on, no extra when headed near finish
led, ridden and narrowly headed entering final furlong, rallied gamely to regain lead near finish
soon nudged along in rear, ridden and some progress into 5th over 1f out, never pace to challenge
took keen hold early, always towards rear
awkward leaving stalls, mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway 3f out, soon ridden, hung very badly right from 2f out, challenged inside final furlong, kept on
chased leaders, effort 3f out, one pace final 2f
held up, headway after 4f, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
It may be worth paying heed to the fact that Frankie prefers Al Shemali to last year's Arc third Sagara. The selection was flattered to finish as close as he did to Red Rocks at Lingfield but that was still a respectable performance which gives him leading claims in this grade. He should be able to build on that in due course and may be able to land this heat. Dragon Dancer's hard to catch right, Peppertree Lane vulnerable to something with a turn of foot at this trip, Eastern Anthem and Sagara have been overlooked by Dettori and may need the run, Young Mick has a good bit to prove and Maid To Believe plenty to find. Speed Gifted has been favourably mentioned in dispatches from his yard and has a future but his targets may be further down the line; the market should tell us everything that we need to know. Shahin finished a close second on his seasonal return in this race last year and should make a bold bid to go one better with Raincoat better than he showed last time and respected. We'll be hoping that Frankie's got it right though and will be siding with Al Shemali.
Al Shemali 9-4 (8-12) Tracked winner, pressed winner over 2f out, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 5, 3/4l behind Red Rocks (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f stk (2) gf in May.
Dragon Dancer 16-1 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, gradually weakened, last of 10, 12l behind Getaway (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
Eastern Anthem (IRE) 3-10fav (9-0) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 3, 1 1/2l behind Halicarnassus (9-5) at Goodwood 1m 3f 3yo lst stk (1) gd in May '07.
Peppertree Lane (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) Tracked winner, ridden to press winner and every chance from 2f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, faded near finish, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Finalmente (9-2) at Sandown 2m Grp 2 (1) sft in May.
Raincoat 4-1 (9-0) Held up, not clear run from 2f out until headway over 1f out, switched left but gap closed and badly hampered, eased, 9th of 11, 15l behind Macarthur (9-0) at Chester 1m 5f Grp 3 (1) gd in May.
Sagara (USA) 33-1 (8-11) Held up, disputing 9th straight, finished well over 1f out, took 3rd close home, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Dylan Thomas (9-5) at Longchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Shahin (USA) 7-2 (9-4) Raced wide in touch, ridden halfway, lost place over 3f out, 6th of 7, 7l behind Steppe Dancer (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) pol in Sept.
Speed Gifted 4-1fav (8-11) Held up towards rear, smooth headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, driven out final furlong, won at York 1m 6f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Celestial Halo (8-13) by 2l, 19 ran.
Young Mick 14-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, ridden along 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 20l behind Geordieland (8-12) at York 1m 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
Maid To Believe 16-1 (8-12) Held up in touch of chasing group, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 37l behind Folk Opera (8-12) at Haydock 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf in May.
