soon pushed along in rear, closed from 4f out, driven to challenge 2f out, soon no impression and beaten
made most, soon taken on for lead, came to near side rail straight, quickened clear over 1f out, unchallenged
mostly pressed winner, ridden 3f out, every chance but ridden when not much room and switched right inside final 2f, soon outpaced and no chance with winner
held up in 4th off the pace, closed over 4f out, effort on near side when not clear inside final 2f, soon hung right under pressure and beaten
tracked clear leading pair, closed over 4f out, hard ridden over 2f out, soon no impression and beaten
Mubtaker has won his last three starts and should be able to complete a four timer with Hardwicke Stakes winner Indian Creek looking the main danger in an uncompetitive field. The selections three wins have all been at Newbury but there is no reason why he cannot reproduce the same level of form here and, with ground conditions to suit, he should win again. The Whistling Teal also won at Newbury last time but that was in October last year and, while he has to be respected, the likelihood is that Geoff Wragg's colt will need the run. First Charter and Nadour Al Bahr have a bit to find on official BHB ratings and a bigger threat to the selection should be Indian Creek. David Elsworth's five-year-old is not always the most reliable of horses but on his day, as at Ascot, is more than capable of taking a hand in this grade. However, Mubtaker is in great form at present and should take plenty of beating.
