in touch, effort and every chance entering final furlong, weakened inside final furlong
held up in touch, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed post
behind, tailed off final 2f
close up, ridden 2f out, held when not much room over 1f out
held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, ran on
led, ridden and edged right over 1f out, headed and edged right inside final furlong, no extra
held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, soon every chance, led post
keen, chased leader, ridden 2f out, weakened when bumped approaching final furlong
Nayyir comes out best on official BHB ratings but Gerard Butler's dual Lennox Stakes winner is probably having this as a prep before Goodwood and preference is for Le Vie Dei Colori, who gets the vote ahead of Court Masterpiece. The last mentioned was the easy winner of a Listed race at Goodwood last time but that did not look to be the strongest of contests and Ed Dunlop's five-year-old may struggle to follow up in this company. Vortex showed his best form on turf when landing a handicap over seven furlongs on the Rowley Mile course last month and has to be respected but this is tougher, while Sir Michael Stoute's Arakan has failed to progress as much as anticipated and may be best watched at present. Amanda Perrett's Royal Storm does not look good enough on recent form and preference is for Le Vie Dei Colori. Luca Cumani's horses are running better now and the son of Efisio made a pleasing start to the term when winning a Listed race at Leicester prior to coming up against an in-form Rakti in the Lockinge last time. Open to more improvement and not facing anything of the calibre of Rakti today, Le Vie Dei Colori looks worth another chance.
Arakan (USA) 16-1 (9-0) Steadied rear, headway over 2f out, not quicken 2f out, no impression, weakened final furlong, 5th of 8, 7l behind Rakti (9-0) at Newbury 1m Grp 1 (1) frm in May.
Court Masterpiece 13-8fav (9-5) Held up towards rear, headway and chased leader 2f out, switched left and shaken up to lead over 1f out, soon clear, very easily, won at Goodwood 1m lst stk (1) gs beating Elliots World (8-8) by 9l, 6 ran.
Just James 16-1 (9-5) In touch, effort and driven 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 13, 10l behind Chic (8-11) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 (A) gd in Aug.
Le Vie Dei Colori 9-2 (9-0) In touch, pushed along 3f out, outpaced and no impression final 2f, 6th of 8, 8l behind Rakti (9-0) at Newbury 1m Grp 1 (1) frm in May.
Nayyir (9-2) Held up, short-lived effort 2f out, 6th of 7, 6l behind Somnus (9-2) at Longchamp 7f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Royal Storm (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) Chased leaders stands' side, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 17, 13l behind Iffraaj (9-6) at York 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf.
Vortex 4-1 (9-9) Held up in touch, led over 1f out, soon ridden, just held on, won at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in May beating Appalachian Trail (8-9) by a shd, 9 ran.