in touch in 5th, pushed along 4f out, weakened 2f out
held up in last pair, racing on inside when hung left and bit slipped through mouth from over 3f out, not clear run over 2f out, pulled out to challenge over 1f out, stayed on to lead final 110 yards, held on gamely
pulled hard, tracked leader until led 9f out, kept narrow advantage until headed final 110 yards, soon no extra in 3rd
soon tracked leading pair, headway on outside over 1f out,went 2nd final 100 yards, stayed on strongly to press winner to line, just failed
steadied start, held up in last pair, smooth headway on outside to press leaders over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 2f out, weakened approching final furlong
took keen hold, led 3f, tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 2f out, weakening when not much room over 1f out
CHRISTOPHER WREN ran a good race in defeat at Royal Ascot last time and is given the chance to get back on top in this handicap ahead of Countess Comet and Heading To First. A winner at Haydock two starts back the selection then ran better than the bare result suggests in the King George V Stakes at The Royal meeting. The form from both those runs looks good so he can go in off this mark. Countess Comet was an impressive winner of a maiden last time but it's difficult to suggest she's well in at the weights first time up in a handicap. Heading To First scored on his last start but after only narrowly hanging on the assessor now may be in charge. Fine Sight took five attempts to get off the mark and has so far been a bit unlucky to be in some warm looking handicaps and is given another chance with more weight removed while Valid Reason is unexposed and is better than his debut handicap run showed last time. A tough end to the day but the blueprint is there for a Christopher Wren masterpiece.
Countess Comet (IRE) 7-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders, 2nd on bit 3f out, led gong well 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon clear, stayed on well, easily, won at Chepstow 1m 4f 3yo mdn (5) gd in May beating Prince Of Dreams (9-3) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Christopher Wren (USA) 33-1 (8-3) In touch, pushed along over 3f out, 5th and driven along 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 18, 4 1/2l behind Dandino (8-13) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Fine Sight 40-1 (8-9) Led at steady pace, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, weakened final 100 yards, 5th of 12, 4l behind Dandino (8-10) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Valid Reason 3-1 (9-4) Took keen hold, tracked leader until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, no impression when carried left inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 4l behind Activate (8-12) at Kempton 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Apr.
Meglio Ancora 9-1 (9-0) Held up, switched left and headway on outer over 1f out, chance inside final furlong, unable to quicken, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Roxy Flyer (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 3f 3yo stk 0-75 (5) gd in Jun.
Higgy's Ragazzo (FR) 10-1 (9-5) In rear of chasing group, headway 2f out, chance when ridden and hung badly left from over 1f out, stayed on and finished under far side rail, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Trovare (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun.
Heading To First 6-1 (8-2) Led after 2f, set steady pace, quickened pace over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, driven out, won at Leicester 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun beating Chapter And Verse (9-10) by hd, 7 ran.
Missionaire (USA) 14-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, some headway over 2f out, soon no progress, 8th of 12, 13l behind Arctic Cosmos (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jun.
