in touch towards rear, ridden and headway to chase leaders over 2f out, stayed on towards finish
raced wide close up, headway to chase leaders over 4f out, soon ridden, weakened 2f out, soon eased, tailed off
in touch in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
in touch, ridden 3f out, no impression
tracked leaders, chased winner over 3f out, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong, just held on to 2nd
tracked leader, led over 4f out, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on strongly
led, pushed along and headed over 4f out, weakened tamely over 3f out, soon eased, tailed off
NonRunner
Medburn Cutler has had just the two outings since winning this last year and hasn’t raced since May. Alan King trained the inaugural winner in 2017 and runs Who Dares Wins, who also returns from a lengthy absence after finishing third in the Chester Cup. But the unexposed FESTIVAL OF AGES (NAP) has the more recent form having gone close in both starts so far over 2m including at Wolverhampton earlier in the year and he gets the vote with Charlie Appleby’s yard remaining in red-hot form. Vis A Vis finished a creditable fourth over today’s trip in the Cesarewitch in October and has a shout on that form but The Cashel Man hasn’t won on the Flat since 2015 though has been recently placed over hurdles.
Who Dares Wins (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Switched left start, held up in rear, good headway on outside tracking leaders approaching halfway, ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, plugged on inside final furlong, went 3rd post, 3rd of 16, 7 1/2l behind Magic Circle (9-3) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in May.
Festival Of Ages (USA) 7-4jfav (9-5) Raced keenly tracking leaders on inside, switched right 3f out, soon 2nd, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Aircraft Carrier (9-0) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f stks (2) pol in Jan.
The Cashel Man (IRE) 6-4fav (11-1) Reluctantly led, slow 1st, shaken up and went clear after 4 out, ridden when pressed between last 2, edged right after last, kept on, caught post, 2nd of 4, nk behind Reserve Tank (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gs in Mar.
Castlelyons (IRE) 6-1 (9-13) Held up in 4th, closed from 3f out and led 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 6, 2 3/4l behind Cayirli (9-10) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) pol in Feb.
Coeur de Lion 33-1 (8-11) Mid-division, driven over 4f out, soon ridden, never threatened leaders, 16th of 33, 24 1/2l behind Low Sun (9-2) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp stks (2) gf in Oct.
Coeur Blimey (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Prominent, not fluent 4th or 5th, led before 6th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 18, dist behind Poker Play (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Medburn Cutler 6-1 (9-9) Close up, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Uber Cool (9-9) at Goodwood 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Vis A Vis 11-8jfav (11-2) Held up in mid-division, headway 7th, mistake 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, no impression last, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Storm Arising (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Mar.
