always towards rear, pushed along halfway, never near leaders
led, clear halfway, still clear when ridden over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong
close up, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and effort over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, eased final furlong
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
raced wide close up, plenty to do when ran wide bend into straight 2f out, ridden and ran on to lead well inside final furlong, eased near finish
always in rear
held up, effort over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
A race notable for the return of 2000 Guineas entry VAN DER NEER. Unbeaten until finding only Kingsbarns too good in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October, Richard Hannon's colt should be winning this if he's to launch a serious challenge for the first Classic of the season. Maxentius came up short in Pattern races in the second-half of last year and finished behind sixth-placed Operation Chariot in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. The lower-rated Hoarding also finished ahead of him in Listed company here three weeks ago and the latter could figure in this. Masarah is another with something to prove at this level, but Richard Fahey has put Unsinkable in the Guineas and that suggests he's improved since winning both starts over 6f last summer.
Hoarding (USA) 7-2 (9-1) In rear, ran on final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Teophilip (9-1) at Lingfield 7f Listed Stakes (3yo) (1) pol in Mar.
Luhaif 9-1 (8-8) 5th of 8, 11l behind Now Spun (8-8) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 3yo lst stk gd in Feb.
Maxentius (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) Slowly away towards rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, no impression towards finish, 6th of 12, 2l behind Teophilip (9-1) at Lingfield 7f Listed Stakes (3yo) (1) pol in Mar.
Ocean Applause 16-1 (9-4) Towards rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor, 9th of 11, 21l behind Strong Conviction (8-12) at Yarmouth 1m 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Operation Chariot (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Soon led, headed over 6f out, pressed leader, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 5l behind Janoub Nibras (9-0) at Kempton 1m Conditions Stakes (2yo) (4) pol in Sep.
Unsinkable (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Led, narrowly headed 1f out, soon ridden, rallied gamely to lead again post, won at Doncaster 6f 2yo nov stk (5) gs in Jul beating Tickle Time (9-5) by shd, 5 ran.
Van Der Neer 5-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, pushed along to close over 2f out, soon not much room and switched right, kept on inside final furlong, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Kingsbarns (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2yo Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct.
Flawless Beauty (8-13) 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Morning Frost (8-13) at Chantilly(FR) 6f 3yo Listed stks (1) fbs in Mar.
Masarah (IRE) 28-1 (8-12) Close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 10l behind Just The Judge (8-12) at Newmarket 7f 2yo fll Grp 2 (1) gs in Oct.