tracked leaders, every chance over 1f out, kept on and held towards finish
in rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
led, headed over 5f out, ridden and one pace inside final furlong
tracked leader, led over 5f out, ridden over 1f out, soon pressed, held on towards finish
held up in touch, headway over 6f out, faded inside final furlong
Nonrunner
Jan Smuts ran no sort of race dropped back to 1m4f here last time. He had Cavalieri back in third when scoring over track and trip before that, his only win so far in 12 attempts on the all-weather. ROYAL FLAG has yet to win anywhere yet but tumbled down the weights last year and stayed today’s trip well enough when fourth in a higher grade over course and distance last time. Brian Ellison’s charge can take this given Stanarley Pic has not raced since July and the remaining pair arrive out of form.
Lac Leman (GER) 28-1 (9-5) Led, headed 2f out, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 10 3/4l behind Isharah (9-3) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Spiritoftomintoul 6-1 (9-10) Slowly away in rear, headway on outer over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 9, 11 3/4l behind Pivot Bridge (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Cavalieri (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden and headway over 3f out, effort when short of room over 1f out, stayed on, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Jan Smuts (9-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Royal Flag 22-1 (8-12) Steadied start, held up in rear and keen, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, plugged on battling for modest 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Isharah (9-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Jan Smuts (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Removed hood late and slowly away, held up, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 22 1/4l behind Genres (10-11) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Stanarley Pic 10-1 (8-9) Tracked leading pair, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 6, 25 1/4l behind Buonarroti (9-10) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp (4) sft in Jul.