tracked leaders on far rail, ridden and hung right 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, no threat after
held up towards rear, bit closer halfway, ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division on far rail, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
raced keenly in mid-division, headway on outside halfway, led over 2f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, stayed on same pace
led 4f, chased leader until 4f out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, steady headway on outside tracking leaders 3f out, went 2nd going well 2f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, stayed on well
went to post early, raced keenly tracking leader, led 8f out until ridden and headed over 2f out, lost 2nd 2f out, chased leaders, weakened approaching final furlong
held up in last pair, headway on outside over 1f out, kept on into one paced 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, weakened over 3f out, tailed off eased
raced keenly tracking leaders, went 2nd 4f out until 2f out, hung right and weakened over 1f out
always in rear, never a factor, tailed off
steadied start, raced keenly and held up towards rear, good headway on far rail tracking leaders over 5f out, disputing 2nd 2f out, ridden and no extra inside final furlong
Dubai Instinct won twice over 1m2f last year but there is a slight doubt about his stamina over this extra quarter-mile whereas Look Closely appeared to relish the step up in trip at Leicester on his final start of 2019. Roger Varian’s Sea The Stars gelding can improve further this season but SEVERANCE looked one to follow after winning at Haydock last year. Things went slightly awry after but he wasn’t disgraced at Royal Ascot and is well treated on that performance. Durrell proved best on Turf last year and is not without a chance while Edinburgh Castle doesn’t have many miles on the clock.
Skymax (GER) 11-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, ridden and weakened final furlong, 11th of 19, 17 3/4l behind Trueshan (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Look Closely 4-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, led entering final 2f, clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Leicester 1m 4f stks (4) gf in Sep beating Great Esteem (9-2) by 6l, 6 ran.
Dubai Instinct 5-2 (9-7) Keen tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden out, won at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Aug beating Simoon (9-10) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Severance 7-1 (9-0) Taken to post early, steadied start, in rear, pushed along 3f out, never nearer, 7th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Alternative Fact (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Jersey Wonder (IRE) 4-1 (9-11) Led until over 2f out, lost 2nd inside final 2f, weakened soon after, 7th of 8, 21 1/4l behind Vibrance (8-9) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Holy Kingdom (IRE) 16-1 (8-0) Held up behind, driven and headway on outside over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to press winner when carried right inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 9, hd behind First In Line (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Durrell 5-2 (8-12) Led 1f, settled 3rd 8f out, pushed along 3f out, ridden inside final 2f, weakened soon after, last of 5, 9 3/4l behind Faylaq (9-7) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Grandee (IRE) 5-6fav (9-7) Held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, edged left over 2f out, no impression, 5th of 6, 17 3/4l behind Rubenesque (8-10) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Stamford Raffles 40-1 (9-7) Soon led, ridden and headed approaching 2f out, soon weakened, last of 10, 26 3/4l behind Birds Of Prey (9-12) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Gas Monkey 9-2 (9-13) Tracked winner until over 4f out, lost 3rd over 3f out, weakened soon after, 7th of 8, dist behind King Of The Sand (9-4) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp stks (4) hvy in Sep.
Chesterfield (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Edinburgh Castle (IRE) 10-11fav (9-9) Awkwardly away, held up towards rear, driven over 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach front pair, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Wemyss Ware (9-2) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f stks (5) pol in Oct.
