held up in rear, rapid headway to lead over 6f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, headed over 6f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd over 5f out, ridden and every chance over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, kept on and no impression
held up in touch, went 4th over 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on
tracked leader, lost place over 5f out, switched left and headway 2f out, stayed on towards finish
Highland Castle has only run seven times and hasn't been seen since a short-head second to Barbican in an Ascot Listed event in September 2011. He's on the comeback trail as is Fort Belvedere, a winner at Longchamp for Andre Fabre in April of that year. Cardinal Walter was highly tried after landing a Haydock maiden last June and performed with credit but this should go to VOODOO PRINCE, who won a handicap over 1m2f here in August and ended his campaign with a close third to Art Scholar in the November Handicap.
Cardinal Walter (IRE) 2-1fav (8-11) Slightly detached early, in touch in rear 9f out, headway approaching 2f out, soon every chance, pressed winner inside final furlong, no extra final strides, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Eagles Peak (9-11) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) sft in Sep.
Fort Belvedere (8-10) won at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f stk gd in Apr '11 beating Bubble Chic (9-4) by shd, 6 ran.
Highland Castle 15-8fav (9-0) Steadied start, in touch in rear, effort on outer over 1f out, ridden to lead narrowly inside final furlong, edged left briefly towards finish, headed post, 2nd of 6, shd behind Barbican (9-0) at Ascot 1m 6f Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Sep '11.
Northside Prince (IRE) 15-2 (9-3) In touch, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 14, 6l behind Ingleby Spirit (8-7) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
The Bull Hayes (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Led after 2f, clear over 6f out, ridden and headed 3f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 4l behind St Moritz (9-5) at Ripon 1m 2f stks (3) gd.
Voodoo Prince 16-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon every chance, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 23, 1 3/4l behind Art Scholar (8-7) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Be Perfect (USA) 11-4fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 7l behind Aquilonius (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Feb.