slowly into stride, held up towards rear on outside, pushed along inside final 4f, no real impression when edged right final 2f
held up towards rear, brief effort on outside over 2f out, weakened soon after
mid-division on inside, smooth headway on rail over 2f out, tracked winner on bit well over 1f out, eased out over 1f out, soon ridden to challenge, no extra and held final 100 yards
towards rear on inside, headway inside final 2f, stayed on inside final furlong, unable to reach leaders
towards rear, effort and staying on same pace when pushed right and not much room entering final furlong
took keen hold, chased leading pair, went 2nd over 2f out until over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
behind, headway on inside from 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders
made all, ridden and strongly pressed over 1f out, stayed on to assert final 100 yards
held up towards rear, headway on outside inside final 2f, stayed on to 4th final 100 yards, nearest finish
took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon faded
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened soon after
took keen hold, chased leaders, edged right over 2f out, weakeneing when hampered well over 1f out
towards rear on inside, headway on inside over 2f out, kept on final furlong but never going pace to get competitive
took keen hold, chased winner until over 2f out, weakened soon after
in touch, not much room just inside final 2f, weakeneing when hampered over 1f out
held up towards rear, closer order on outside halfway, ridden just inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, behind, ridden over 3f out, some late progress, never in race
reminders soon after start, raced very wide towards rear, closer order halfway, pushed along 3f out, driven and weakened 2f out
tracked leaders on inner, ridden over 1f out, 3rd and one pace final furlong
Nonrunner
Only once in the last decade has this race gone to a horse drawn lower than 16, so we're going to side with SEA LORD to beat Invisible Man and Oasis Dancer; Marajaa is considered while Irish Heartbeat may fare best of those seemingly hampered by their pitches. Mark Johnston landed this last year with Laa Rayb - ironically the horse to defy our opening statistic - and his Sea Lord has maintained a progressive profile this term. At Newmarket he was given a fine front-running ride to account for First Cat who has since taken third and with Wednesday winner Dance East held into third the form looks solid. Up just 3lbs and drawn to attack once more, he can get the better of Invisible Man. Godolphin's Royal Hunt Cup winner is 6lbs higher but as a winner of four of his 12 starts could still be capable of progressing and the horse he beat last time ran with credit in the Lennox Stakes earlier this week. Like our selection Oasis Dancer carries a penalty for winning last time but that form is nothing to get carried away with and he's mainly of interest on account of his second to Workforce here last year, combined with what should prove a fine draw. Marajaa isn't ruled out from 15 as he won at the meeting last term and ran a fine race when fourth at Newmarket recently, while this could also have been his target. Irish Heartbeat appeals as the type to win a decent handicap over this trip and is surely better than he showed over six last time when taken off his feet. Any ease in the ground would help Richard Fahey's charge who is just preferred to Ransom Note of those drawn low. The latter is well-regarded and won in the manner of a potential Group horse at Royal Ascot but is entered to run on Thursday and therefore must count as a doubtful runner if taking up that initial engagement. Spectait is 3lbs lower than when landing this race in 2006 but he's tried in blinkers after some awful displays this term, so a bigger threat could well be Acrostic. Luca Cumani's charge has a bit to find with Invisible Man on Hunt Cup form but ran well at Sandown last time and has experience in this type of race. Beauchamp Xerxes beat Vitznau here in May, Aspectus hasn't been with current connections long and could improve while Tartan Gunna, disappointing here on Tuesday, is tried in a visor now and could bounce-back. A typically competitive renewal of this contest but history helps us to focus in on the high-drawn runners, pick of whom could well be Sea Lord.
Acrostic 6-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, headway and hanging right from over 2f out, effort on rails over 1f out, stayed on well to take 2nd final 75 yards, not able to reach winner, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Black Spirit (8-8) at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gf.
Beauchamp Xerxes 25-1 (9-3) Went left start, keen soon tracked leaders, ridden and hung left over 1f, kept on one pace, 5th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Premio Loco (9-11) at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.
Invisible Man 28-1 (8-9) Raced far side, held up towards rear, still plenty to do 2f out, good headway and weaved through over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Royal Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun beating Riggins (9-0) by 1/2l, 29 ran.
Vitznau (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 14, 4l behind Tartan Gigha (9-10) at Epsom Downs 1m hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Jun.
Signor Peltro 8-1 (9-5) Raced stand's side, in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 6th of 19, 3l behind St Moritz (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Aspectus (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Dajen (8-2) at Ffos Las 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Al Muheer (IRE) 28-1 (9-1) Behind stands side, outpaced 2f out, driven to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never reached leaders, 8th of 21, 4l behind Castles In The Air (9-0) at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gd.
Sea Lord (IRE) 13-2 (9-9) Made all, ridden 2f out, stayed on gamely, won at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf beating First Cat (8-7) by nk, 11 ran.
Proponent (IRE) 50-1 (8-11) Raced far side, in touch, headway 2f out, every chance 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, lost 4th near finish, 5th of 29, 2 3/4l behind Invisible Man (8-9) at Royal Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Oasis Dancer 4-1 (8-12) Held up in last pair, headway 3f out, tracked leader inside final 2f out, stayed on to lead last half furlong, outbattled runner up, won at Newbury 7f con stks (3) gd beating Dafeef (8-9) by nk, 6 ran.
Royal Destination (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, never on terms, 10th of 19, 8l behind Wigmore Hall (8-2) at York 1m 2f hcap (2) gf.
Charlie Cool 10-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Capponi (9-2) at York 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Marajaa (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Keen raced far side, held up, merged with center group over 4f out, headway over 1f out, ran on near finish, not reach leaders, 4th of 19, 2 1/2l behind St Moritz (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Mahadee (IRE) 7-1 (9-10) Held up, headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, soon headed and bumped heavily and carried left near finish (awarded race), won at Doncaster 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf beating Ancient Cross (9-0) by hd, 10 ran.
Irish Heartbeat (IRE) 9-4fav (9-5) Chased leaders stands side group, no extra final furlong, 6th of 16, 9l behind Lowdown (9-0) at Hamilton 6f hcp 105 (2) gs.
Ransom Note 5-1fav (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway from over 2f out, no impression final furlong, 7th of 19, 2 3/4l behind Circumvent (9-7) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Tartan Gunna 14-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway on inside and squeezing through narrow gap when hampered inside final 2f, stayed on well inside final furlong, nearest finish, 6th of 15, 6l behind Indian Days (9-1) at Goodwood 1m 2f hcp (2) gd.
Spectait 12-1 (9-9) Dwelt, in rear, never afactor, 8th of 10, 7l behind Prime Exhibit (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Webbow (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, mid-division, under pressure over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, soon hung left, stayed on same pace, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Capponi (9-2) at York 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Dunn'o (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Led, kept on well when pressed from over 1f out, ridden and headed last half furlong, kept on, lost 2nd final 75 yards, 3rd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Black Spirit (8-8) at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gf.
Coasting 6-1 (9-4) Held up, effort 3f out, driven along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 12l behind Rulesn'regulations (9-4) at Goodwood 7f stks 0-95 (2) gd.
