in touch, ridden and effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong
slowly into stride, towards rear, headway 2f out, soon ridden and effort, kept on one pace final furlong
chased leaders, effort and chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up towards rear, hampered after 2f out, soon pushed along in rear, switched right and effort approaching final furlong, stayed on well towards finish
mid-divsion, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, led entering final furlong, all out towards finish
tracked leader, led 2f out, lost action over 1f out, eased and headed entering final furlong
mid-division, ridden 2f out, every chance over 1f out, no extra final furlong
led, headed 2f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, pushed along halfway, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, stayed on well towards finish, just held
towards rear, headway and effort 2f out, hampered over 1f out, no further progress
The classy Nayyir is taken to make a winning return, with Ashdown Express, Danger Over and Country Reel the most likely to chase him home. Nayyir was a most progressive sort last season, finishing the campaign with a demolition of some good rivals in Group 2 company over seven furlongs at Newmarket. While he may be at his best over a slightly further trip than today's, he should strip fit enough on his reappearance and has the class to cope with these. Ashdown Express relishes these conditions and had Resplendent Cee a length and a half away when second to Avonbridge in Listed company at Salisbury last time. Chris Wall's gelding should confirm that form and has decent place claims at least. Danger Over was undone by a poor draw at Beverley last time, but had earlier scored well in a conditions race at Kempton and although this is a tougher race he would not have to improve too much to feature in the finish. Country Reel finished last season with a good fourth in the Middle Park Stakes and this three-year-old is a live contender on his first start for Saeed Bin Suroor, but Nayyir has the form in the bank and is just preferred in a cracking opener.