in touch on inner, smooth headway over 2f out, shaken up to lead entering final furlong, quickened clear, comfortable
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, nearest finish
tracked leaders, ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, weakened final furlong
in rear, ridden 2f out, headway when not clear run 1f out, stayed on to go 4th close home
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
raced wide close up, headway 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong
led, ridden and edged left from over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on one pace
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish
This is anybody's race and BLACK CHERRY gets only a speculative vote. She opened her account with a three length victory at Goodwood last time and will stay this longer trip on that evidence. Royal Silk and Arethusa are other winners at Goodwood with the former having the more recent form while Theydon Bois beat Deep Blue Sea by only a nose at Newmarket last month and the latter has since gone close again. A winner at Bath, Merritt Island steps up a grade after going close at Wolverhampton but Fruity drops in class on the back of a fourth at Ascot. Forest Maiden and Hoorayforhollywood are better than they showed last time and Engaging Smile is not out of this either.
Black Cherry 6-4fav (8-11) Led, joined 2f out, hung left to centre of course over 1f out, ran on well and always in command final furlong, won at Goodwood 7f mdn fll stks (5) gd in May beating Privileged (9-0) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Fruity (IRE) 14-1 (8-2) Prominent in main group, pushed along halfway, no impression when lost 3rd over 1f out, ridden in 4th and one pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 7l behind Mister Universe (8-12) at Ascot 7f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd in May.
Arethusa 7-1 (9-0) Tracked leader early, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 13l behind Lady Of Dubai (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 2f 3yo lst fll (1) gd in May.
Royal Silk 6-1 (9-4) Went sharply right after start, held up in 6th, steady headway on outside tracking leaders over 2f out, went 2nd approaching final furlong, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, led last strides, won at Goodwood 1m 3yo fll hcp 0-80 (4) gd in May beating Volunteer Point (9-5) by hd, 9 ran.
Deep Blue Sea 6-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, headway 2f out, ridden to lead briefly inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 10, nk behind Roxy Star (9-5) at Nottingham 1m 3yo fll hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Engaging Smile 2-1 (9-7) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, led approaching final furlong, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Luna Moon (9-3) at Lingfield 7f 3yo flls hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Apr.
Hoorayforhollywood 6-1 (9-3) Close up, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 5, 29l behind Endless Time (9-5) at Salisbury 1m 2f 3yo fll hcp 0-85 (4) sft in May.
Merritt Island 4-1 (9-7) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Edge Of Heaven (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f fll hcp (5) in May.
Theydon Bois 50-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, driven inside final furlong, ran on to lead post, won at Newmarket 1m 3yo fll hcp 0-75 (5) gd in May beating Deep Blue Sea (9-6) by ns, 11 ran.
Forest Maiden (IRE) 2-1fav (8-12) Held up in touch, took keen hold, closed over 3f out, led over 2f out, soon headed, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Saucy Minx (9-9) at Salisbury 7f flls hcp 0-130 (3) gf in May.