started slowly, in rear, headway 2f out, kept on final furlong but never nearer
started slowly and always behind
in rear, switched wide over 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, nearest finish
held up in touch, outpaced 3f out, kept on one pace
towards rear, headway final 2f, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
led until headed 2f out, soon ridden and weakened final furlong
in touch until weakened quickly 2f out
prominent, led well over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on one pace
held up towards rear and always behind
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong, not trouble winner
held up behind, ridden halfway, soon beaten
prominent until ridden and hampered 2f out, weakened and eased soon after
held up mid-division, effort 2f out, soon ridden and weakened well over 1f out
never better than mid-division
held up in touch, ridden halfway soon beaten
held up, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
close up, ridden 3f out, switched left 2f out, soon beaten
held up in touch, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, cosily
in touch, led briefly 2f out, soon headed, kept on one pace
started slowly, in rear, some late headway 2f out
in touch till halfway, weakened
held up, headway 2f out, hard ridden over 1f out, one paced
A typically wide open renewal of this valuable contest but Zonergem looks the type to follow this season and gets the vote. The Lady Herries-trained gelding could hardly have been more impressive when landing a competitive Ascot handicap in September before running below expectations in the Cambridgeshire. It's possible the the latter race came too quick for the lightly raced son of Zafonic who remains open to further improvement and looks well drawn on the stands side. Andrew Balding has made a fine start to his training career and the Kingsclere handler is represented by both Golden Chalice and the front running Passing Glance. However, the former returns to the track following a long absence due to injury and is best watched while the latter looks weighted up to his very best. J R Stevenson ran encouragingly on his comeback at Doncaster when runner-up in the Spring Mile and has to be on the short list despite a 2lb rise while Mystic Man steps up in class after landing a Leicester handicap last time but is a progressive type who shouldn't be far away. Faithful Warrior was largely disappointing last season but is back on a fair mark and represents an in-form yard so is another to consider while Finished Article was far from disgraced in the Lincoln from a moderate draw but may struggle once again from an unfavourable low draw.
