tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch in rear, headway from over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, one pace final furlong
in touch in rear, switched left 3f out, effort over 1f out, one pace final furlong
made all, ridden and edged left towards stand side rail 2f out, ridden and ran on
tracked winner until 2f out, weakened final furlong
keen early prominent until switched left to race alone 3f, rejoined main group over 6f out, tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, ran on
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong
in touch, ridden and lost place 4f out, eased from over 2f out, tailed off
Pure Excellence looks the pick of the Johnston pair but neither make much appeal at the weights. High Troja won easily at Leicester last month but is 9lb higher in this more competitive affair, while Carry On Sydney keeps finding one too good and is still creeping up the weights and this is a much better race that the one in which Naru failed to justify favouritism at Beverley. SOVIET ROCK got off the mark at York in October and continued his improvement by scoring over today's course and distance on his reappearance. A hat-trick beckons for Andrew Balding's Rock Of Gibraltar gelding as Barnaby Brook only won a Kempton maiden in March and Makafeh will probably stay further this year.
Pure Excellence 10-1 (9-7) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon edged right, kept on, 4th of 9, 7l behind Country Western (8-13) at Ripon 1m 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Apr.
Makafeh 33-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, ridden and headway to chase leading trio over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 11, 10l behind Trading Leather (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2yo Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
Carry On Sydney 11-4fav (9-4) Held up in last pair, went 4th 3f out, headway to 3rd well over 1f out, chased winner just over 1f out, soon ridden and hung badly right, stayed on same pace under pressure after, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Spillway (9-2) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Apr.
Soviet Rock (IRE) 11-1 (8-13) Made all, clear 4f out, ridden over 1f out, soon pressed, found extra towards finish, won at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr beating Hillstar (9-5) by 1l, 7 ran.
Naru (IRE) 5-4fav (9-13) Tracked leading trio, headway on outside 3f out, challenged and hung right 2f out, soon led, ridden and hung left inside final furlong, caught close home, 2nd of 5, nk behind Ambleside (9-2) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Apr.
Salutation (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, every chance over 1f out, soon edged right, no extra inside final furlong, 10th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Columella (8-8) at Warwick 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
High Troja (IRE) 7-4fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, quickened to lead over 1f out, ridden and ran on strongly, won at Leicester 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Apr beating Mombasa (9-7) by 5l, 7 ran.
Barnaby Brook (CAN) 5-1 (9-5) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, held on well, won at Kempton 1m 2f 3yo mdn auc stks (5) pol in Mar beating Incorporate (9-5) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
