held up in touch, ridden and switched right over 3f out, some headway over 1f out, never going pace to challenge
tracked leader for 1f, challenged just over 3f out, soon lead ridden over 2f out, drew clear over 1f out, ran on well
lead until headed 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on one pace
tracked leader after 1f until over 3f out, soon ridden and struggling
held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, eased from over 1f out
A rather disappointing turn out for the feature race on the card and Mubtaker is the choice to repeat his success of twelve months ago while Systematic and Mamool appear as the main dangers. Alec Stewart's charge has proved a fine stable servant down the years, notching six wins from 14 starts, and put up his best effort when a convincing winner of this valuable Group 2 event last season. The six-year-old suffered an injury when being campaigned in Dubai earlier this year but showed he'd made a full recovery when making a winning return in a Listed event over ten furlongs at this track last month. Sure to have improved for the run, the admirably tough and consistent son of Silver Hawk should take the beating. Mamool has been absent since failing to last home in the Gold Cup but has claims on the form of his Yorkshire Cup success in May and has to be feared despite conceding 3lb to the selection. Systematic improved throughout last season, winning seven races and making the transition from handicaps to Pattern company when successful in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot last September. However, Mark Johnston's charge returns from a near 11-month absence having injured a cannon bone earlier in the year and may just need the outing while the three-year-olds Let Me Try Again and Santando both have something to prove at this level so Mubtaker looks the answer.
