held up in touch, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
tracked leader to over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, beaten when hampered over 1f out, soon eased, tailed off
held up in last trio, headway on rails over 3f out, not clear run over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, stayed on well after but unable to reach leaders
chased leaders, driven along over 3f out, kept on gamely under pressure final 2f, finished well
steadied, held up in rear, closer order on outside over 3f out, good headway over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, soon challenging, led narrowly 100 yards out, kept on well
held up in touch, effort on outside over 3f out, weakened quickly 2f out, eased when beaten final 1f, tailed off
held up in touch, dropped to last trio 8f out, headway but only keeping on at one pace when driven and hung right over 1f out, no impression after
close up on outer, effort to chase leader over 3f out until hard ridden over 1f out, weakened final 1f
led, pushed along and stayed on from 2f out, strongly pressed over 1f out, narrowly headed final 100 yards, kept on trying
DRUMFIRE was an impressive winner here on Tuesday, and Mark Johnston's charge is taken to be a double Goodwood winner, being preferred to the Godolphin pair of Crime Scene and Age of Reason. The yard have won this contest three times in the last ten years, and Drumfire wouldn't be running if they didn't think he had a realistic chance of adding this title to his list of successes. Crosspeace managed a similar double for the stable three years ago, so it wouldn't be unprecedented. Having said that, Drumfire's had more success over a mile and a quarter rather than the mile and a half he'll tackle here. Crime Scene won a listed race at Newbury last time out, and it was something of an upset as he beat a more fancied stable-mate. He's proved versatile over varying distances and in differing conditions. Age of Reason was disappointing last time out at Newmarket, having previously done well to be runner up in an Italian Group 1 contest. A concern may be though that he's won only two of his last ten outings, and those successes came in Dubai and Qatar. The market can give us some clues if history's anything to go by, as there's only been one double figure priced winner of this in the last ten years. The price here may be quite generous for our selection, and that's Drumfire.
Basaltico (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Settled rear; smooth progress to track winner 600m out; one pace final 200m, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Veracity (9-2) at Nad Al Sheba(UAE) 2m stks gd in Feb.
Crime Scene (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Made all and set steady pace, quickened 3f out, ridden 2f out, hung right final furlong, stayed on, won at Newbury 1m 2f Listed stks (1) gs beating Covert Ambition (9-3) by 1l, 8 ran.
Drumfire (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway 3f out, edged right and led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Goodwood 1m 2f hcp (4yo+) (2) gd beating Sweet Lightning (8-3) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Halicarnassus (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, no headway, well beaten over 1f out, 8th of 9, 31l behind Kirklees (9-2) at York 1m 2f stks (1) gd.
Illustrious Blue 20-1 (9-0) Held up in 7th, hung right over 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, not pace to get competitive, 6th of 9, 7l behind Bronze Cannon (9-3) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun.
Indian Days 50-1 (9-2) Held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, chased leader briefly 2f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 5l behind Doctor Fremantle (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 4f stks (1) gd.
Muhannak (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Slowly away; soon ridden in last; never near to challenge, 10th of 14, 29l behind Well Armed (9-0) at Nad Al Sheba(UAE) 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Mar.
Unleashed (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Held up, effort over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Furmigadelagiusta (9-1) at Pontefract 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gf in Jun.
Warringah 9-2 (9-4) Led, driven along and stayed on from 2f out, found no extra near finish, headed post, 2nd of 10, shd behind Hits Only Vic (9-0) at York 1m 6f listed hcp 0-110 (1) gd.
Age of Reason (UAE) 3-1 (9-0) Held up, not far away, came centre over 7f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, soon eased, last of 5, 31l behind All The Aces (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gd in Jun.
