held up in last pair, steady headway going well over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along 3f out, soon outpaced and weakened
steadied start, held up in rear, pushed along and hung left from 3f out, ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, plugged on inside final furlong, just missed modest 3rd
raced keenly, soon led, brought field centre in home straight, ridden over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, kept on for clear 2nd
raced in 3rd, pushed along 3f out, soon ridden, weakened 2f out
wore hood to post, raced keenly, led briefly, chased leader, ridden and lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong, just held on for modest 3rd
Al Aasy is becoming hard to predict. Comfortably the highest-rated in the field, he's only had two starts since October 2021, resulting in a comfortable Listed success over a year ago and a tailed-off last of five on reappearance after a 420 -day break. He's likely to go off at a short price, so HIGHLAND AVENUE rates a viable alternative. He's twice placed in Group 3 company this term, including a narrow defeat in the Diomed at Epsom, and put in a perfectly good shift whe fourth in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot. He's reliable and should run his race. Phantom Flight hasn't been beaten at all far in his last two Listed starts and is respected, as is ex-French Epic Poet, returning after a break to make his stable debut. The market may tell the story with him.
Al Aasy (IRE) 9-4 (9-5) Held up last, pushed along and no response over 2f out, never in the race, eased when no chance final furlong, tailed off, last of 5, 24 1/2l behind Kemari (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in Jul.
Epic Poet (IRE) 3-1 (9-1) Led, headed 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Sundoro (8-10) at Marseille-Borely 1m 2f lst stks gs in Nov.
Highland Avenue (IRE) 18-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, ridden and stayed on one pace final furlong, 4th of 16, 2 1/4l behind Royal Champion (9-8) at Ascot 1m 2f lst stks (1) gd in Jun.
Phantom Flight 5-1 (9-2) Held up in 4th, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, no chance with leading trio, 4th of 5, 2 1/2l behind Kemari (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in Jul.
Dancing Magic (IRE) 40-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway when slightly hampered over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 8th of 16, 4 1/4l behind Waipiro (9-2) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Oviedo (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Prominent, led over 2f out, ridden when edged left over 1f out, headed 1f out, fading when edged left inside final furlong, 9th of 16, 5 1/4l behind Waipiro (9-2) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jun.
