held up last and off the pace, switched out and steady headway from 2f out, chased leaders final furlong, stayed on to press for 2nd near finish
dwelt, held up in 6th, effort on outside 2f out, no impression over 1f out
tracked leader to 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd going well 2f out, soon ridden and found nil and weakened over 1f out
held up in 5th, headway on outside over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, driven to assert gamely final 100 yards
given easy lead, kept on well when strongly pressed from 2f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, challenging until held final 100 yards
Into The Dark, Hard Top and Championship Point are shortlisted here and we will side with Into The Dark. The selection was a mightily impressive winner at Newmarket last time when beating Ofaraby and although this is his first run of the season, he should prove too strong for the rest of he is fit enough to do himself justice. Championship Point seems to have recaptured some of his old sparkle of late and he certainly ran well enough last time when third behind Septimus at the Curragh. He had previously run well behind Hattan at Ripon and he is not one to dismiss lightly. Hard Top ran well enough at Lingfield last time but he may again find this trip a little on the sharp side and for that reason he is opposed. Road To Love is a course and distance winner and he could go well at a price, but for the winner we will stick with Into The Dark.
Imperial Star (IRE) 13-2 (8-12) Held up mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon weakened and eased, last of 9, 37l behind Manduro (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Into The Dark 11-4fav (9-2) In touch, improved halfway, led over 3f out, quickened clear final furlong, won at Newmarket 1m 2f lst stk (1) gs in Oct beating Ofaraby (9-2) by 6l, 8 ran.
Championship Point (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Soon led, joined approaching straight, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Septimus (9-6) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Charlie Cool 15-2 (9-10) Chased leaders, lost action over 2f out, vitually pulled up, last of 16, well behind Supaseus (8-10) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gf.
Hard Top (IRE) 6-5fav (8-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden, every chance 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on for 2nd close home, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Blue Ksar (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f stk (2) gs.
Illustrious Blue 4-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 3f out, rallied under pressure from over 1f out, went 2nd near finish, never any chance with very easy winner, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Cesare (9-0) at Ascot 1m lst stk (1) gf.
Road To Love (IRE) 5-2 (9-0) Led, brought field to centre course over 6f out, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly, last of 5, 27l behind Cesare (9-0) at Ascot 1m lst stk (1) gf.
