raced wide close up, ridden 2f out, chased winner 1f out, kept on one pace, lost 2nd near finish
took keen hold, raced wide in touch, hampered 2f out, soon weakened
pressed winner until ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
in rear, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, never a factor
taken to post early, pulled hard in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, ran on to go 2nd near finish, not reach winner
in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and no impression final furlong
held up, headway when waiting for gap 2f out, effort on inside over 1f out, no impression final furlong
A race won by the subsequent Group 2 winner Dubawi Gold last year and the Hannon team run a similar type in GUSTO today. He ended last term on a high with victory in a Listed contest over 6f at Doncaster and there's enough stamina on his dam's side to suggest this longer trip will suit. He's preferred to stablemate Crown Dependency, but Bannock could prove a bigger problem as he landed the Rockingham at York before his form tailed off at the end of the season. Gatepost is another whose form took a dip last year but an earlier fifth in the Coventry Stakes at Ascot is testament to his ability, while Boris Grigoriev was placed in decent sprints for Ballydoyle last term and has since joined Mick Easterby. Kenny Powers could get involved if recent exertions in Dubai haven't taken their toll.
Bannock (IRE) (8-13) 6th of 10, 7l behind Restiadargent (8-10) at Maisons-Laffitte(FR) 6f 2yo Grp 2 sft in Nov.
Gusto 8-1 (9-1) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 6f Listed stks 2yo (1) gd in Oct beating Chunky Diamond (9-1) by nk, 10 ran.
Arbitrageur (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Dwelt, soon improved to chase leader, 2nd halfway, 3rd 3f out, ridden 2f out, soon no impression and kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 10l behind Honourable Emperor (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 3yo stks pol.
Big Note (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Dwelt, held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 21, 19l behind Reply (9-2) at Doncaster 6f 2yo aut (2) gd in Sep.
Boris Grigoriev (IRE) 28-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 14th of 21, 6l behind Reply (9-2) at Doncaster 6f 2yo aut (2) gd in Sep.
Crown Dependency (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) In touch, driven to challenge 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 7th of 9, 8l behind Caspar Netscher (9-4) at Newbury 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Equation Of Time 12-1 (8-11) Chased leading trio, green and outpaced on outside 2f out, wide on home turn, driven and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, pushed out, won at Lingfield 6f mdn stks (5) pol in Feb beating Derivatives (8-6) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Gatepost (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Tracked leaders, no extra from 2f out, 16th of 18, 16l behind Seanie (8-13) at Fairyhouse 7f 2yo aut in Sep.
Kenny Powers 12-1 (8-8) 9th of 12, 9l behind Burano (8-8) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 3yo lst stk (1) gd in Feb.
Kickingthelilly 15-8 (9-6) Tracked leader, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on, won at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating Homeward Strut (8-2) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Pale Orchid (IRE) 8-11fav (9-7) Keen early, held up in touch in rear, headway approaching final furlong when switched left, ridden to lead inside final furlong, asserted near finish, won at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb beating Waseem Faris (9-3) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
