raced stand side, mid-division, weakened over 3f out
raced stand side, held up in touch, ridden and effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
raced stand side, held up, hampered halfway, never dangerous
raced stand side, in touch, ridden to lead that group over 1f out, soon overall leader, headed inside final furlong, ran on
led and switched to race centre over 8f out, clear over 3f out, headed and no extra over 1f out
raced stand side, held up, headway over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, never nearer
raced stand side, held up in touch, effort over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, eased
raced stand side, held up, headway over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, led inside final furlong, edged right under pressure, ran on
raced stand side, mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon one pace
raced stand side, tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
raced stand side, prominent, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace
led stand side, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
raced stand side, slowly into stride, towards rear, headway from well over 1f out, ran on, nearest finish
raced stand side, held up, never dangerous
switched to race centre over 8f out, chased leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
A big field assemble for the finale, but mark Johnston seldom wastes his visits to headquarters, so Alrafidain is taken to see off the challenges of the likes of Zalongo, Solway Firth, Fu Manchu and Come On Jonny to name but a few. Alrafidain showed that he had trained on in no uncertain fashion when making all at Musselburgh on his reappearance, sluicing home by no less than 15 lengths. The form may turn out to be questionable, but the son of Monsun could not have done any more, and this Dante and Derby entry should go well with fitness on his side. The slight drop back in trip would be the only worry, and Zalongo could prove a real thorn in his side. Sir Michael Stoute's colt has been catching the eye on the gallops, and this half-brother to Posidonas has strengthened up over the winter. He too is pencilled in for the Dante and is held in high regard. Fu Manchu has run twice at Newmarket already but time will tell if he is up to this grade or just a good handicapper in the making, while Come On Jonny has bags of experience and will also pay to follow in this sphere. Solway Firth made a winning debut at Lingfield and should have plenty of stamina. He will need to improve as well to take a hand, so we shall stick with Alrafidain as the answer.
Perfect Choice (IRE) 33-1 Raced wide, in touch, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Brecon Beacon at Newmarket 7f 2yo stk (C) gf in Jul.
Skidrow 25-1 Led for 1f, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, slightly outpaced over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Something Exciting at Newmarket 1m 2yo stk (C1) sft in Oct.
Active Asset (IRE) 4-1 Held up behind leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 10l behind Solent at Doncaster 1m 3yo stk gd.
Zalongo 20-1 Mid-division, driven and headway over 1f out, ran on to lead last strides, won at Yarmouth 7f 2yo mdn (D3) sft in Oct beating Paradise Mill by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Alrafidain (IRE) 4-6fav Made all, pushed clear well over 1f out, eased inside final furlong, unchallenged, won at Musselburgh 1m 4f mdn stk gs in Mar beating Liberty Seeker by 15l, 12 ran.
Alpine Gold (IRE) 7-1 Tracked leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 6l behind Squaw Dance at Newmarket 1m 2yo lst stk (A1) gs in Oct.
Group Captain 5-1 Tracked leader, led over 1f out, ridden and hung right inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn (D2) pol in Mar beating First Row by 2l, 8 ran.
Blaise Hollow (USA) 33-1 Slowly into stride, behind, headway 3f out, bumped 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 17, 7l behind Glen Ida at Kempton 1m 1f 3yo hcp gd in Mar.
Dream Tonic 20-1 Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2f out, ridden out, won at Musselburgh 1m 2yo mdn (D2) gs in Nov beating Key of Solomon by 2l, 9 ran.
Solway Firth 6-1 In touch, ridden and effort over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn (D3) pol in Feb beating Indebted by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Danehill Willy (IRE) 6-1 Tracked leader, ridden halfway, led 3f out, soon headed and hampered, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 16l behind Ayam Zaman at Newmarket 1m 2f 2yo lst stk (A1) gs in Oct.
Luis Melendez (USA) 5-2fav Always prominent, led over 5f out, ran on well, won at Leicester 1m 2yo mdn (D2) gd in Oct beating Barbary Coast by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Eva Soneva So Fast (IRE) 5-4fav Tracked leader, pressed leader 4f out, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, ran on well, driven out, won at Windsor 1m 2yo mdn (D3) gf in Sept beating Phi by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Master Cobbler (IRE) 33-1 Mid-division, ridden and no impression when hampered inside final furlong, 8th of 17, 13l behind Glen Ida at Kempton 1m 1f 3yo hcp gd in Mar.
Kindling 7-2 Prominent, led after 2f, ridden over 2f out, ran on well, drew clear final furlong, won at Musselburgh 1m 1f 2yo mdn aut (E3) gs in Oct beating Caribbean Dancer by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Fu Manchu 12-1 Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Newmarket 7f 2yo mdn aut (E) sft in Aug beating Mister Genepi by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Come On Jonny (IRE) 12-1 Tracked leaders and keen, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, headway 2f out, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo hcp gd in Mar beating Duroob by 1l, 17 ran.
