slowly into stride, held up towards rear, driven and beaten final 2f
led until over 3f out, stayed well there, stayed on same pace final 2f
close up on outside, pushed along 4f out, pressed winner 3f out until over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
soon tracked leader until over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 2f out
took keen hold, tracked leaders, led on inside travelling well over 3f out, ridden and in command over 1f out, stayed on strongly, driven out
held up in 6th, headway on inside over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, never reached leaders
held up in 7th, pushed along 4f out, headway on outside over 2f out, went 3rd over 1f out, stayed on well towards finish, close on 2nd near finish
held up in rear, ridden and no response 2f out
tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, went 2nd under pressure 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong but not able to reach winner
Nonrunner
SABOTAGE looks likely to be hard to beat and is selected to get the better of Claremont, with Heliodor again likely to find that his best isn't quite good enough. A winner in Dubai when last seen, Saeed Bin Suroor's charge looks the pick of Godolphin's pair here with the drop back in trip unlikely to pose a problem. It's encouraging that both of his wins have come on good to firm ground and he's shown he's got pace as well as stamina by winning over shorter, so with the prospect of more to come this 111-rated gelding rates our confident selection. In all likelihood he's got Claremont to beat here, especially if the first time visor helps Godolphin's second-string to find a bit of improvement. The concern with this son of Sadler's Wells is that he may not relish this quick surface and, whilst he's not been with new connections for long, he hasn't yet got his head in front for them. That said he's rated 109 and that seems fair enough, so if he runs to the pick of his form the forecast spot may lie in wait. Heliodor represents a yard continuing to do well and has become a consistent performer at this level without actually winning. He can usually be relied upon to run his race but our feeling is his stamina will be stretched here and he's taken on along with Blizzard Blues, who is unexposed but needs to step up on his seasonal reappearance when beaten plenty far enough in the John Porter, although the form has worked out well. Bergo needs a market check having seemingly improved over obstacles this winter; his love for a quick service is well known and when Ryan Moore rides for his father it often pays to take note. Sabotage looks the class horse in this race though and he's taken to show it.
Balkan Knight 28-1 (9-1) Held up in last pair, last and struggling 3f out, well behind final 2f, tailed off, 9th of 10, 29l behind Illustrious Blue (9-1) at Ascot 2m Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Bergo (GER) (8-11) 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Bussoni (9-0) at Germany(GER) 2m stk gd in May '07.
Blizzard Blues (USA) 25-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, switched right 4f out, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, edged left over 1f out, no impression, 6th of 15, 11l behind Harbinger (8-11) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Centennial (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) last of 10, 14l behind Kasbah Bliss (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 7f Grp 3 gd in Sep.
Claremont (IRE) 15-8 (8-12) Keen in touch, ridden and pressed leader 4f out, chased winner over 3f out, hung left over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Jukebox Jury (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gf.
Heliodor (USA) 40-1 (9-8) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Tinaar (8-9) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gs.
Petara Bay (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Always towards rear, 6th of 8, 8l behind Metaphoric (9-3) at Ascot 2m Listed stks (1) gd in Sep '08.
Red Merlin (IRE) 9-1 (9-6) Mid-division, raced keenly, some headway over 4f out, pushed along over 3f out, edged right over 2f out, never really in contention, 12th of 19, 12l behind Sesenta (8-8) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Sabotage (UAE) 20-1 (8-8) won at Meydan(UAE) 2m stks gf in Feb beating Age Of Reason (8-13) by nk, 12 ran.
Shipmaster 11-1 (9-0) Led 2f, tracked leader, reminder over 5f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 10, 17l behind Opinion Poll (8-11) at Nottingham 1m 6f Listed stks (1) sft in Apr.
