led, going easy over 3f out, ridden over 2f out and soon pressed, headed over 1f out, no extra closing stages
tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, headway to dispute lead over 2f out, led narrowly over 1f out, drew clear inside final furlong, easy
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, keeping on and disputed lead 2f out, every chance when led narrowly headed over 1f out, kept on but no match for the winner inside final furlong
towards rear, short of room and switched right over 2f out, shaken up and some headway when again hampered over 1f out, switched left and kept on closing stages but never on terms
towards rear, headway to dispute lead over 2f out, soon edged right, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on at the one pace and lost one position inside final furlong
towards rear, pushed along in last over 3f out, soon edged left and some headway over 2f out, kept on strongly and went 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden 3f out, no impression and weakened to rear from 2f out
tracked leader, chased leader over 3f out, ridden and every chance over 2f out, soon edged left and weakened quickly
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, kept on but never on terms
mid-division, pushed along and some headway over 2f out, soon short of room, ridden over 1f out and soon weakened
tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, eased down and tailed off over 2f out
NonRunner
NonRunner
Another competitive renewal of this famous old handicap with Zabeel Champion and GRAND BAZAAR closely matched on running at Newmarket in May. The former has subsequently placed at Ascot, ahead of Aaddeey, but the latter was making his seasonal debut at Headquarters and the Gosden charge should be spot on today. Valyrian Steel has shown progressive form on the all-weather while Longsider looks to have been laid out for this having been off the track since winning a novices race at Lingfield in February that has worked out well. Midnights Legacy beat Soto Sizzler at Epsom last month having found Pirate King too good on the all-weather at the start of the year but My Frankel seems to save his best for Kempton. Last year’s third The Trader can race off the same mark but Pablo Escobarr hasn’t raced in a handicap since well beaten in last year’s Ebor. Lost Eden could go well at a price, however.
Pablo Escobarr (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Held up in last pair, bit closer in 4th 3f out, 3rd and no impression when hung left under pressure over 1f out, 3rd of 6, 4 3/4l behind Outbox (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stks (1) gf in Jun.
Zabeel Champion 17-2 (9-9) Led, ridden 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Quickthorn (9-3) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) hvy in Jun.
Alounak (FR) 40-1 (9-10) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Quickthorn (9-3) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) hvy in Jun.
Win O'Clock 15-2 (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 14, 7 1/2l behind Quickthorn (9-3) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) hvy in Jun.
Scarlet Dragon 14-1 (9-7) Slowly away in rear, good headway over 3f out, pushed along and every chance 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Quickthorn (9-3) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) hvy in Jun.
Midnights Legacy 12-1 (9-3) Patiently ridden towards rear, steady headway out wide and pushed along over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, ridden and stayed on to lead final 150 yards, won going away, won at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jun beating Soto Sizzler (9-5) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
My Frankel 6-1 (9-8) Pulled hard and prominent, went 2nd halfway, pushed along and lost 2nd over 2f out, chased leaders, weakened inside final 2f, eased over 1f out, 11th of 15, 25 1/2l behind Ilaraab (9-9) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in May.
Brilliant Light 10-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, last of 15, 15 3/4l behind Amtiyaz (9-1) at Ascot 1m 6f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Soto Sizzler 3-1 (9-5) Restless and reared up as stalls opened losing many lengths, behind, headway on heels of leaders and switched left to inside in 2nd over 2f out, led entering final furlong, headed and not pace of winner final 150 yards, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Midnights Legacy (9-3) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jun.
The Trader (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Tracked leader 3f, chased leaders, weakened inside final 2f, 7th of 10, 17 1/4l behind Midnights Legacy (9-3) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jun.
Dark Jedi (IRE) 18-1 (9-4) Midfield, pushed along over 2f out, no extra, 5th of 11, 6l behind Strawberry Rock (8-10) at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Longsider (IRE) 2-1 (9-9) Reared badly start and lost many lengths, wide and headway to track leader over 9f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran green inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Feb beating Raymond (9-4) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Pirate King 10-11fav (10-4) Close up, headway entering final furlong, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Jan beating Midnights Legacy (9-7) by nk, 5 ran.
Aaddeey (IRE) 13-2 (9-6) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace, 5th of 14, 4 3/4l behind Quickthorn (9-3) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) hvy in Jun.
Grand Bazaar 7-2 (9-3) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed final stride, 3rd of 5, shd behind Zabeel Champion (9-7) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in May.
Lost Eden (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders on inside until ridden and lost place halfway, soon behind and struggling, tailed off and eased, last of 11, dist behind Albaflora (8-9) at Ascot 1m 4f lst stks (1) sft in May.
Valyrian Steel (IRE) 5-4fav (9-3) Held up in last pair, headway on outside chasing leaders over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, quickened to lead towards finish, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Jun beating Galata Bridge (9-7) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
