led after 1f , ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd 100 yards out, weakened and dropped to 4th towards finish
held up in rear, ridden and not quicken over 2f out, no chance after
chased leader until 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch, headway on inside well over 1f out, chased leading pair and switched right over 1f out, chased winner final 1oo yards, ran on
close up ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, one pace and no impression final furlong
took keen hold, led 1f, soon settled 3rd, went 2nd 2f out, led inside final furlong, driven and kept on gamely
raced wide, towards rear, pushed along 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up last, struggling and no chance over 2f out
held up, headway on outside over 1f out, driven and strong run inside final furlong, finished fast and closed on leading pair near finish, almost snatched 2nd
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
In a tight race VITZNAU gets the call ahead of Thebes and Icelandic, although very few of these can be confidently opposed. Our selection ran with credit off this mark last time when not beaten at all far and our feeling is this track will play more to his strengths; he's a strong travelling sort who needs to be produced late. Richard Hannon's charge is only 4lbs higher than when winning at Wolverhampton earlier this year and certainly has the speed for this trip so with Richard Hughes up he's our preferred option. Thebes may well start favourite and justifiably so; he's a largely consistent handicapper who has the pace to lead these and won't go down without a fight in the closing stages. Most of his winning has come at shorter but this seven furlongs is hardly stiff and he'll go well, along with Frank Sheridan's Icelandic who has all-weather winning form back in Italy. This eight-year-old hasn't been out of the first three when racing over seven furlongs in the UK so it's a slight surprise he's not been allowed to do so since 2008; our feeling is he'll be close at the death. The Scorching Wind has his conditions and has done well this winter but our feeling is the handicapper now has him whilst Noble Citizen could go well over his optimum trip but does have a few pounds to find with our pick. Al Muheer is interesting in the first-time visor but he doesn't appeal as particularly well treated whilst Autumn Blades is another who could sneak a place if everything drops right, but our feeling is that Vitznau will be difficult to keep out of the frame and he's selected accordingly.
Al Muheer (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) last of 11, 13l behind Sirocco Breeze (9-10) at Meydan(UAE) 7f hcap in Mar.
Icelandic 9-2fav (9-3) Held up, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Fullandby (9-3) at Doncaster 6f Listed stks (1) sft in Nov.
Eisteddfod 17-2 (9-5) Soon led, headed over 1f out, weakened, last of 4, 6l behind Atlantic Story (9-0) at Lingfield 7f 4yo stk (3) pol in Jan.
Vitznau (IRE) 15-2 (9-5) Mid-division, hampered and lost place over 5f out, ridden 2f out, ran on, not reached leaders, 6th of 14, 2l behind Beauchamp Viceroy (9-10) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Autumn Blades (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Held up in mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, no impression final furlong, 9th of 14, 4l behind Beauchamp Viceroy (9-10) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Thebes 5-1fav (8-12) Tracked leading pair, ridden to go 2nd briefly over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 6l behind Castles In The Air (8-13) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Imprimis Tagula (IRE) 40-1 (8-8) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 8l behind Secret Asset (8-1) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Titan Triumph 11-2 (8-9) In touch, ridden and lost place over 2f out, 6th of 7, 11l behind Abbondanza (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-95 (2) pol in May.
Noble Citizen (USA) 33-1 (9-3) Led, quickened over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, edged right, soon one pace, 5th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Vitznau (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Mar.
The Scorching Wind (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Went left start, soon switched right, mid-division, effort on inside over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Beauchamp Viceroy (9-10) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
