held up in touch, ridden halfway, soon weakened, eased final furlong
behind, ridden and headway over 3f out, driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened final furlong
edged right start, in touch, driven to challenge over 2f out, soon every chance, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, weakened over 2f out, eased
held up in rear, some headway over 2f out, soon no impression
held up, smooth headway over 2f out, every chance when hung left over 1f out, bumped and led inside final furlong, soon hung right, hung left under pressure and badly balked well inside final furlong, headed close home
led, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and hung badly right and headed just inside final furlong, swerved violently right and smashed into leader inside final furlong, stayed on to close home
tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon faded
tracked leader, led over 2f out, soon headed, rallying when hampered entering final furlong, stayed on towards finish
in touch, under pressure over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Ajaan may just have been over the top by the time he put in a disappointing final effort at Yarmouth last year, but with Henry Cecil's string in good shape he can take this, with Celtic Spirit and Maid To Believe among the dangers. The selection sees this trip out well, acts on any ground, and still looks to be on a very competitive mark, so we will give him the nod. Celtic Spirit beat Pinch Of Salt over the trip at Kempton last time and is upped 6lb here, so this will be tougher. Maid To Believe scored over the distance at both Windsor and Salisbury last term and was not beaten far in Listed company at the Ascot Festival in September. He would want fast ground to be seen to best effect but should go well. Pentatonic was a fast ground Folkestone winner over the trip last summer and dropped back to the distance for his reappearance he can show more than last time. Grande Caiman is interesting in first-time cheek pieces and Silver Suitor is not without a chance, but we prefer the claims of Ajaan in the last.
Maid To Believe 20-1 (8-9) Held up behind, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on, not trouble leaders, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Brisk Breeze (8-9) at Ascot 1m 4f lst fll stk (1) gs in Sept.
Bid For Glory 14-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, headway over 3f out, one pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Championship Point (9-0) at Ripon 1m 2f stk (3) gs in Apr.
Rayhani (USA) 4-1 (8-13) Held up, ridden and effort over 2f out, never a threat, 3rd of 5, 4l behind Escape Route (8-11) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Apr.
Celtic Spirit (IRE) 3-1 (9-1) Held up 5th, not clear run and hampered 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, driven out, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Apr beating Pinch of Salt (9-3) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Pentatonic 5-1 (9-6) Took keen hold tracking leaders, ridden 3f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 8, 5l behind Hi Calypso (8-7) at Goodwood 1m 6f fll stk Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug.
Camps Bay (USA) 7-1 (9-0) Held up mid-division, ridden and hung left 3f out, never near leaders, 5th of 9, 12l behind Aajel (8-11) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcap (2) gf in Sept.
Invasian (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Pulled hard early, headway to lead after 2f, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened quickly, last of 8, 21l behind John Terry (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Feb.
Ajaan 7-2 (8-11) Held up in touch, ridden 3f out, one pace final 2f, 4th of 9, 7l behind Aajel (8-11) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcap (2) gf in Sept.
Tartan Tie 9-1 (9-0) Led, pressed 2f out, headed well over 1f out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 6l behind Celtic Spirit (9-1) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Apr.
Silver Suitor (IRE) 11-4fav (8-12) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on under pressure over 1f out, not reach winner, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Magicalmysterytour (9-9) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Aug.
Generous Jem 50-1 (9-3) Towards rear, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 11l behind Brisk Breeze (8-9) at Ascot 1m 4f lst fll stk (1) gs in Sept.
Grande Caiman (IRE) 6-4fav (9-5) Held up 4th, headway on inside and effort 2f out, took 2nd over 1f out, no extra and lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Celtic Spirit (9-1) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Apr.
Press The Button (GER) 6-1 (8-5) Held up, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 11l behind Jamboretta (8-6) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
