raced wide mid-division, ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on to go 2nd near finish, not trouble winner
led 5f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
switched left start, took keen hold in rear, not clear run 2f out, switched right inside final furlong, kept on, never able to challenge
in rear, ran on final furlong, not reach leaders
tracked leaders over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
slowly away towards rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, no impression towards finish
mid-division, headway on inside 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
towards rear when stumbled over 5f out, never on terms
led 2f, ridden to lead again 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close up
Richard Hannon has won three of the last five renewals with the progressive Gusto picking up last year's prize and the high-class Dubawi Gold winning in 2011. That suggests EMELL is highly thought of and his narrow-margin defeat in Listed company at Doncaster in October points to a bold bid from the Medicean colt. Dangers abound although the Gosden inmate, Hoarding, has a bit to find with the selection at the weights as do Marco Botti's duo Hasopop and Teophilip. Despite not winning in Group company last year, Maxentius is the highest rated in today's contest with a fourth in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster his best effort and he makes more appeal than the likes of Queen Aggie and Ask The Guru.
Ashamaly 7-2 (9-7) In touch, smooth headway over 1f out, shaken up to lead approaching final furlong, driven inside final furlong, just held on, won at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb beating Black Dave (8-4) by shd, 5 ran.
Ask The Guru 9-2 (9-5) Awkward away, tracked leaders, ridden halfway, kept on to chase easy winner inside frinal furlong, no chance, 2nd of 3, 4 1/2l behind Hairy Rocket (9-0) at Lingfield 5f 2yo nov stks (5) pol in Aug.
Emell 4-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Invincible Warrior (9-1) at Doncaster 6f Listed stks 2yo (1) sft in Oct.
Grilletto (USA) 2-1fav (8-9) Keen soon led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Teophilip (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Hasopop (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Raced towards stand side keen tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 19l behind Tawhid (8-12) at Newbury 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) hvy in Oct.
Hoarding (USA) 2-1 (9-1) Raced far side led this pair, prominent, led overall over 3f out, ridden and quickened clear over 1f out, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 2yo stks (2) sft in Oct beating Rhamnus (9-1) by 3l, 5 ran.
Lyric Ace (IRE) 33-1 (8-3) Chased leaders, weakened over 2f out, last of 21, 40l behind The Gold Cheongsam (8-1) at Doncaster 6f 2yo aut (2) gd in Sep.
Maxentius (IRE) 13-2 (8-12) Raced towards stand side led this group, took keen hold, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 18l behind Tawhid (8-12) at Newbury 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) hvy in Oct.
Teophilip (IRE) 7-2 (9-7) Close up, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb beating Grilletto (8-9) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Lucky Di 10-1 (9-2) Fly leapt start in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression, last of 6, 8l behind Teophilip (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Queen Aggie (IRE) (8-11) 6th of 8, 5l behind Aquatinta (8-11) at Maisons-Laffitte(FR) 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) hvy in Nov.
Shafaani 66-1 (9-0) Raced centre mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 19, 18l behind Victrix Ludorum (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 2yo flls auc (2) sft in Oct.
