track leaders, ridden 3f out, stumbled badly well over 2f out, lost action and hung right 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, no chance winner
held up, reminders after 1f, under pressure 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, edged right, kept on until no extra approaching final furlong
led 2f, stayed close up, ridden to lead over 2f out, clear over 1f out, driven out
held up in touch, went 2nd 2f out, soon ridden and lost place over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off final 2f
led after 2f, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
started slowly, in rear, ridden along after 4f, well behind, tailed off final 2f
With the likely defections of Blazing The Trail and Gold Bar, this should develop into a match between Alaared and Curlew River, with the vote going to the former. Stepped up to 12 furlongs for the first time here, the King Of Kings colt has progressed with each run so far, coming closest to scoring over 1m 1f at Salisbury last time. There were excuses for him that day though and over this longer trip he should now be able to show his true capabilities and is taken to land the money. Curlew River went close to winning on a couple of occasions at both Goodwood and Windsor last month before being slightly disappointing over this trip at Newmarket last time. Whether he will be better for a second attempt here can only be taken on trust and so we prefer Alaared to land the spoils.