raced keenly tracking leaders on outside, sustained challenge from inside final 2f, 2nd approaching final furlong, stayed on under pressure to lead inside final furlong, soon edged left, held on
held up in 5th place, never involved
mounted on course, held up last, pushed along 3f out, headway on wide outside over 1f out, went 2nd final 150 yards, sustained challenge towards finish, just held
held up in last pair on inside, pushed along over 2f out, switched left 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken when not clear run over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd final 100 yards
tracked leader 2f, handy on inside, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led and set steady pace, pushed along and quickened over 2f out, joined 2f out, kept on until headed and no extra inside final furlong
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 8f out, pushed along to challenge 2f out, lost 2nd approaching final furlong, no extra inside final furlong
Royal Line makes a belated seasonal debut having ended last year with victory in the November Handicap at Doncaster. Fancy entries suggest he’s retained his ability and he shares the same rating as the penalised ELARQAM (NAP). But the latter wasn’t disgraced when third to Addeybb at Ascot last time with the re-opposing Godolphin duo Oasis Charm and First Nation behind and Mark Johnston’s colt also beat Extra Elusive when winning a Listed race on fast ground at Goodwood earlier. He gets the vote given Cheif Ironside has come up short in Pattern company so far and Fifth Position could only manage third against lower rated opposition at Goodwood back in May.
Elarqam 5-1 (9-6) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed just inside final furlong, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Addeybb (9-3) at Ascot 1m 2f lst stks (1) sft in Jun.
Chief Ironside 33-1 (9-4) Raced near side, mid-division, weakened over 1f out, 14th of 28, 6l behind Afaak (9-3) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) sft in Jun.
Extra Elusive 11-2 (9-1) Slowly away, pulled hard and recovered chasing leaders 8f out, outpaced when hung right then carried right over 1f out, plugged on again closing stages, 5th of 8, 8 1/4l behind Elarqam (9-1) at Goodwood 1m 2f lst stks (1) gf in May.
First Nation 12-1 (9-3) Dwelt towards rear, never on terms, 13th of 16, 16 3/4l behind Addeybb (9-3) at Ascot 1m 2f lst stks (1) sft in Jun.
Oasis Charm 20-1 (9-3) Keen short of room and snatched up after 1f, in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 16, 8 1/2l behind Addeybb (9-3) at Ascot 1m 2f lst stks (1) sft in Jun.
Royal Line 9-1 (9-8) Held up in mid-division, smooth progress 2f out, led going well over 1f out, pushed out, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Not So Sleepy (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 23 ran.
Fifth Position (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders on inside, pushed along 3f out, 2nd over 2f out, challenged from 2f out, ridden over 1f out, outpaced inside final furlong, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Private Secretary (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 3f lst stks (1) gf in May.
