held up, headway to lead over 5f out, quickened pace over 3f out, ridden and ran on final furlong
tracked leader, driven along 3f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
behind, pushed along over 3f out, ridden 2f out, never near to challenge
held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong
stumbled at start and soon led at steady pace, headed over 5f out and remained in touch, weakened over 2f out, virtually pulled up
A good line-up for the Rose Of Lancaster in which we will side with David Junior ahead of Notable Guest and Perfectperformance. The Brian Meehan-trained selection looked a colt of enormous potential when winning Listed events at Newmarket and Sandown this season before finishing seventh in the Sussex Stakes last time. Given the trip and going, he actually performed pretty well at Goodwood and can prove the point by getting back to winning ways today although, of course, he is trying 12 furlongs for the first time. Notable Guest scored impressively at Royal Ascot at York before never being able to land a blow in the John Smith's Cup. However, he can show better colours today, as can Perfectperformance, who looked a colt of great promise last year but who has yet to see the track this time around. However, he holds some good entries and remains interesting. Following his brave Newbury Listed win, Welcome Stranger earns respect, but Opening Ceremony appears to be out of his depth. For the winner, then, we return to David Junior.
Notable Guest (USA) 5-1 (9-9) Held up and behind, never dangerous, 16th of 21, 17l behind Mullins Bay (9-7) at York 1m 2f hcp 0-110 (2) gd in Jul.
Welcome Stranger 14-1 (9-3) Held up mid-division, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Newbury 1m 2f lst stk (1) gf in Jul beating Belenus (8-7) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Opening Ceremony (USA) 20-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, not clear run over 2f out, soon hampered and lost place, stayed on inside final furlong, 8th of 19, 7l behind Perle d'Or (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Jul.
David Junior (USA) 11-1 (8-13) In touch on outer, hung right from 2f out, no impression when bumped over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 5l behind Proclamation (8-13) at Goodwood 1m Grp 1 (1) sft in Jul.
Perfectperformance (USA) 8-1 (9-0) Held up, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, 7th of 9, 16l behind Shamardal (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 1 (A1) sft in Oct.
