in rear, soon pushed along, switched right inside final furlong, stayed on well, not troubled leaders
always towards rear
in touch, ridden 2f out, edged left 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
led, headed just over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
pressed leaders, led just over 3f out, kept on well inside final furlong, comfortably
in rear, hung right inside final furlong, stayed on, no danger
SOLEMN is on a roll and is preferred here to Gentle Guru and Chandika. One of two Milton Bradley runners in the race, the selection now races off a mark of 67 following wins at Chepstow and Windsor. Now a winner of 4 of his 11 starts on the turf, he is unbeaten in three runs for David Probert and the pair can prosper again. Step It Up has a penalty for winning on Wednesday evening when well-fancied whilst the turf records of Sherjawy and Reigning Monarch are poor. Chandika is unexposed and certainly showed enough when well-fancied on her handicap debut at Windsor last time, Gentle Guru is a course and distance winner and the mare is back in a 56-75 race for the first time in a while, whilst Handsome Cross, Even Bolder and Cape Royal know how to win and they can put their expereience to good use. Solemn comes here in the best form however and is taken to complete his hat-trick.
Gentle Guru 16-1 (9-3) In rear, ridden halfway, ran on final furlong, nearest finish, 6th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Royal Intruder (9-3) at Sandown 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Handsome Cross (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Mid-division, headway when not clear run and not much room approaching final furlong, driven inside final furlong, ran on close home, 3rd of 12, hd behind Royal Intruder (9-3) at Sandown 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Even Bolder 13-2 (9-0) In touch, ridden and not much room over 1f out, and again inside final furlong, soon eased, 11th of 12, 6l behind Royal Intruder (9-3) at Sandown 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Solemn 7-2 (9-1) Chased leaders on outside, led approaching final 1f, ran on well, won at Windsor 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gf beating Espy (9-8) by 1l, 14 ran.
Sherjawy (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Chased leaders to over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 12, 30l behind Gwilym (9-3) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Step It Up (IRE) 6-4fav (8-12) Always prominent, led over 1f out, ran on well, pushed out, comfortably, won at Folkestone 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gf beating Magical Speedfit (9-10) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Chandika 9-2fav (8-4) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, headway on rails over 1f out, kept on to take 3rd near finish, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Corton Charlemagne (8-6) at Windsor 5f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Reigning Monarch (USA) 20-1 (8-12) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 12th of 14, 11l behind Regal Royale (9-6) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Cape Royal 4-1 (9-8) Went slightly right start, raced keenly, led after 1f, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final 100 yards, 5th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Step It Up (8-12) at Folkestone 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.