held up behind leaders, headway to lead carried head high hung badly left over 1f out, not quicken and headed towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead towards finish
pulled hard, held up tracking leaders, smooth headway over 1f out, every chance well inside final furlong, not pace of winner towards finish
held up behind leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden and every chance well inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
pulled hard, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
An open contest might just go the way of OCEAN DRIFT, while Byrony and Da Ponte look the bigger dangers. The selection made a mockery of a wide draw to bolt up at Warwick last time, for which he has been given a mark of 81. He remains at 7f for tonight's event and goes on fast ground, and the manner of his win at Warwick suggested that he was potentially a useful sort so we will side with him. Byrony won a 7f nursery at Kempton earlier in the month and carries a 6lb penalty for that. She has to be considered a serious threat with further improvement likely. Pat Eddery saddles Da Ponte, who took a Lingfield maiden auction race last time on good to firm and is allotted a mark of 75 for this nursery introduction. There is no reason why he can't get involved at the business end. Salisbury winner Honourable Knight may well find more for this step up in trip, though Ocean Drift really did catch the eye at Warwick and can follow-up.
Ocean Drift (USA) 9-1 (9-3) Soon led, made rest, ridden over 1f out, drew clear final furlong, readily, won at Warwick 7f 2yo mdn aut (5) gf beating Danzigs Grandchild (8-12) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Byrony (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Raced wide, tracked leader over 4f out, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Kempton 7f 2yo hcp (5) pol beating Greek Islands (9-7) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Da Ponte 10-11fav (8-11) Pressed leader, driven to lead over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn aut (6) gf in Jun beating Gower Rules (8-10) by 3l, 11 ran.
Honourable Knight (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) With leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on to lead last 75 yards, just held on, won at Salisbury 6f 2yo mdn aut (5) gd in Jun beating With Hindsight (9-2) by hd, 18 ran.
Captain Dimitrios 5-1 (8-1) Led, headed over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Veil Of Night (7-12) at Leicester 6f 2yo hcp (4) gd.
Silly Billy (IRE) 18-1 (8-0) In touch, headway to have every chance over 1f out, soon hung left and stayed on, 3rd of 9, 1/2l behind Major Conquest (9-2) at Ascot 6f 2yo hcp (4) gf.
Velvet Underground (IRE) 15-2 (9-3) Narrow lead on rail, headed 2f out, chased winner until over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 15, 2 1/4l behind Byronic (9-3) at Windsor 6f 2yo mdn (5) gf.
