mid-division, effort over 3f out, driven and disputing 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd and no extra towards finish
held up in rear, shaken up 3f out, well beaten final 2f
held up in last, shaken up 3f out, some progress from over 1f out but never threatened leaders
went right start, held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, soon well held
in touch in mid-division, closed 3f out, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on well, always just held by winner
tracked leader, led over 2f out, driven over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, switched left over 2f out, effort to dispute 2nd over 1f out, 4th and no extra well inside final furlong
held up towards rear, shaken up 3f out, well beaten final 2f
led, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
Withhold has only been here once, landing the 2018 Northumberland Plate from Prince Of Arran and Sir Chauvelin. His previous run resulted in a victory in the Cesarewitch eight months earlier so the lack of a run shouldn't be a problem. The globe-trotting runner-up has done brilliantly subsequently with two placed efforts in the Melbourne Cup among many highlights and he again performed well in Saudi Arabia in February. He finished a couple of lengths behind Royal Line in a Kempton Group 3 in September though that was over 1m4f, which proved too short, and he can reverse the form. ISPOLINI only had two runs last summer after a brilliant winter campaign in Dubai. He ended with a victory in the German St Leger and looks the type to progress into a top stayer this campaign so gets the nod.
Ispolini (9-6) won at Dortmund 1m 6f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Djukon (8-11) by nk, 13 ran.
Prince Of Arran 10-1 (9-5) 3rd of 14, 5l behind Call The Wind (9-7) at Riyadh 1m 7f hcp gf in Feb.
Royal Line 5-6fav (9-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd going well over 3f out, pushed along and weakened over 2f out, 5th of 6, 13 1/2l behind Young Rascal (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Alright Sunshine (IRE) 7-4fav (9-13) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, soon hung left, led entering final furlong, stayed on well, won at Ayr 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Theglasgowwarrior (9-6) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Jeremiah 5-4fav (9-4) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, shaken up inside final 2f, clear inside final furlong, driven out, comfortably, won at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp (4) gs in Aug beating Arrowtown (9-11) by 3 1/4l, 9 ran.
King's Advice 33-1 (9-2) 11th of 14, 27 1/2l behind Call The Wind (9-7) at Riyadh 1m 7f hcp gf in Feb.
Mildenberger Evensjfav (9-6) Chased leader, switched right over 3f out, challenged over 2f out, led over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Chelmsford City 2m stks (2) pol in Mar beating Weekender (9-6) by 4 1/2l, 4 ran.
Nayef Road (IRE) (9-2) 7th of 10, 11 3/4l behind Technician (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m 7f Grp 2 gs in Oct.
Rainbow Dreamer 8-15fav (9-7) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 2m stks (2) pol in Feb beating Chipiron (9-3) by 4l, 3 ran.
Sir Chauvelin 9-2 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders well over 1f out, led inside final furlong, headed and no extra towards finish, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Smart Champion (9-1) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) pol in Feb.
Withhold 15-2 (9-7) Made most until ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out, 5th of 9, 9 3/4l behind Kew Gardens (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) gs in Oct.
