slowly away towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, headed final strides
keen, raced wide early, tracked leader, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, led over 7f out, ridden 2f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra
close up 2f, in touch, ridden 2f out, headway inside final furlong, ran on towards finish
keen, tracked leader 2f, close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
soon led, headed over 7f out, tracked leaders, not clear run over 1f out, headway entering final furlong, driven and ran on to lead final strides
raced wide held up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
Mark Johnston’s stranglehold on this race was broken last year having won the four previous renewals. He runs Communique and Poet's Prince but neither was at their best when finishing well behind WISSAHICKON at York recently. The latter was making his handicap debut on that occasion so further progress is expected today with Frankie taking over the reins and he’s taken to confirm running with the runner-up Beringer. Poet's Prince had earlier beaten Desert Wind and Zaaki at Chelmsford but both re-oppose on better terms while Communique beat his stablemate and Dukhan at Newbury in May when subsequent winner Chief Ironside finished third. The Night Porter is progressing well but this a further step up in class having won a novices’ race last time.
Zaaki 14-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on into 2nd final 75 yards, closed on 2nd, no chance with winner, 3rd of 16, 5l behind Hunting Horn (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Wissahickon (USA) 5-2fav (9-6) Slowly into stride, soon held up in touch, led over 1f out, driven and headed entering final furlong, led again 100 yards out, edged left, stayed on gamely, won at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jun beating Beringer (9-2) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Chief Ironside 7-4fav (8-9) Led after 1f, made rest, brought field centre in straight, edged left over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jun beating Breath Caught (8-9) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Beringer 5-1 (9-2) Dropped out start, held up, headway going well over 2f out, shaken up to lead entering final furlong, soon ridden, headed 100 yards out, edged left, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Wissahickon (9-6) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Desert Wind (IRE) 66-1 (8-11) Raced centre, tracked winner until left in lead of group after 3f, in touch when merged with stands side 4f out, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 30, 2 1/4l behind Ostilio (8-9) at Ascot 1m hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Poet's Prince 7-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, led over 8f out, driven over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon lost place, last of 6, 12 3/4l behind Wissahickon (9-6) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Communique (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) Led, headed over 8f out, ridden 3f out, lost place over 1f out, 5th of 6, 10 1/4l behind Wissahickon (9-6) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Dukhan 14-1 (9-1) Mid-division on outside, ridden over 2f out, never able to challenge, weakened final furlong, 15th of 18, 13 1/4l behind Baghdad (8-12) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
The Night Porter 9-4 (8-13) Chased leaders, smooth progress to lead over 1f out, driven clear, easily, won at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (6) gf in Jun beating Warmhearted (8-2) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
