tracked leaders, switched right final furlong, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, driven out
with leaders and keen, ridden and hung left on bend over 3f out, kept on final furlong
with leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
slowly into stride, held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on to chase winner inside final furlong
led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, no impression
tracked leader and keen, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong
Jewelled Dagger comes here chasing the hat-trick and is taken to score again. Grand Art and Marju's Gold make up the shortlist. The selection has gone up 8lbs for his recent win over the mile trip here at Musselburgh and Ian Semple's gelding can land this race whilst he is in this sort of form. The extra furlong is unlikely to work against him and with the ground to suit, he looks worth siding with again. Desert Soul finished in second behind the selection twelve days ago and has a 6lb pull in the weights. However that may not be enough to reverse the placings although the extra furlong will definitely be in his favour. Prince Noel finished behind the selection on his last run and has place claims again, whilst Marju's Gold was well-fancied last time out but disappointed badly. He pulled too hard that day and didn't get home but it might be folly to rule him out just yet. Grand Art is consistent if unspectacular and needs to find another gear really, and so we have no hesitations in returning to Jewelled Dagger as the selection.
Jewelled Dagger (IRE) 7-4fav (9-8) Made all and keen early, ridden 3f out, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 1m 3yo hcp (6) gf in May beating Desert Soul (9-7) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Grand Art (IRE) 5-2fav (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to chase winner towards finish, no impression, 2nd of 16, 3 1/2l behind The Grey Berry (9-1) at Newcastle 1m 3yo hcp (6) gf in May.
Desert Soul 9-1 (9-7) Prominent, soon tracked winner, ridden over 3f out, headway to challenge over 2f out, not pace of winner from over 1f out, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Jewelled Dagger (9-8) at Musselburgh 1m 3yo hcp (6) gf in May.
Marju's Gold 9-2co-fav (8-13) Mid-division, short lived effort over 2f out, eased when beaten inside final furlong, last of 14, 27l behind Sumner (9-4) at Salisbury 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) gf in May.
Cap St Jean (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up, never dangerous, 13th of 14, 9l behind Mandurah (8-11) at Southwell 6f 3yo hcp (6) gd in Apr.
Prince Noel 12-1 (8-9) Led, headed over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Jewelled Dagger (8-7) at Musselburgh 1m 3yo hcp (6) gd in May.
Fistral 40-1 (8-7) Behind, pushed along halfway, ridden and some headway when hampered well over 1f out, never on terms, 8th of 13, 15l behind Jewelled Dagger (8-7) at Musselburgh 1m 3yo hcp (6) gd in May.
