tracked leader and keen, led over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, headed just inside final furlong, kept on
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden 3f out, headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
held up behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, switched right 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, led towards finish
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, kept on final furlong
slowly into stride, always towards rear
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, led inside final furlong, headed towards finish, kept on
towards rear, effort over 3f out, never dangerous
mid-division, never nearer
behind, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
behind, ridden over 3f out, headway 2f out, one pace
in touch, ridden over 4f out, not clear run over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
The very progressive Mystic Man is napped to land this valuable showcase handicap, with Salute, Athenian and Loweswater the other main contenders. Kevin Ryan's five-year-old has gone from strength to strength this season, following a win at Leicester with a hugely impressive win in the Spring Cup at Newbury. He was drawn on the 'wrong' side for his hat-trick bid in the Victoria Cup at Ascot, and as such ran an absolute blinder to finish fourth behind Camp Commander. That form looks rock solid, Mystic Man is clearly thriving at the moment and is hard to oppose off the same mark here. This mile and a quarter trip is something of an unknown quantity, but at the likely odds we think it is worth taking a chance that he will see out the trip okay. Salute has been knocking on the door this season, and would have strong claims on his second to the well-handicapped Researched at York last time, while Athenian has a similar profile and is fancied to reverse the form with his Newmarket conqueror, Persian Lightning, on three pounds better terms here. Loweswater was a smart juvenile who showed his first form for some time when a well-backed second to Crow Wood at Doncaster last time and is again fancied to reverse the form on two pounds better terms.