held up last, headway on wide outside 3f out, chased leaders approaching 2f out, ridden inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out
close up in 5th, tracked leading trio 7f out, headway on outside 3f out, chased winner approaching 2f out, soon edged briefly right, strong challenge inside final furlong, closed on wiiner close home, just failed
led, set strong pace and over 6 lengths clear halfway, came wide straight and reduced lead over 3f out, strongly pressed from 2f out, driven and edged right briefly final 100 yards, held on gamely, all out
chased winner, closed 3f out, lost 2nd approaching 2f out, one pace and dropped to 4th inside final 2f, rallied to 3rd again final 100 yards, no impression on leading duo
chased leading pair, pushed along 4f out, ridden 3f out, one pace when not much room and bumped 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leading trio until settled 5th 7f out, not clear run briefly and switched to rails 3f out, chased leading pair inside final 2f, one pace and held when hampered and lost 3rd final 100 yards, eased soon after
Shamali has more to do than when landing a Listed race at Kempton three weeks ago but looks a progressive individual. Black Spirit might need this but Kings Gambit ran well on his reappearance at Ripon and was unlucky not to add to his sole success at that track last year. Afsare never stopped improving last summer, completing a hat-trick with narrow win in the Listed Hampton Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, while it will be interesting to see filly Nouriya fares in a four-year-old campaign. She ran better than her final placing suggests in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp in October. VISCOUNT NELSON's close third to Twice Over in the Coral-Eclipse over this C&D last July looks the best form on offer, however, and Aidan O'Brien's colt can make an overdue return to winning ways.
Afsare 9-4fav (9-5) Close up disputing 5th, headway 2f out, driven to challenged and upsides from 1f out, stayed on gamely, won on the nod, won at Royal Ascot 1m 2f 3yo lst stk (1) gf in Jun beating Quadrille (9-2) by shd, 15 ran.
Black Spirit (USA) (9-2) 6th of 10, 2l behind Prince Bishop (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gs in Sep.
Kings Gambit (SAF) 8-11fav (9-5) Tracked winner, pushed along 3f out, ridden to lead narrowly approaching final furlong, headed inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind St Moritz (9-0) at Ripon 1m 2f stks (3) gd.
Shamali 12-1 (8-13) Dwelt, headway to soon track leader, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Kempton 1m 2f Listed stks (1) pol beating Resentful Angel (8-8) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Viscount Nelson (USA) 4-1 (8-10) Tracked leading trio, went 3rd 4f out, driven along and stayed on to 2nd just over 1f out until inside final furlong, stayed on one pace in 3rd, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Twice Over (9-7) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul.
Nouriya 14-1 (8-11) Towards rear, effort over 2f out, never a factor, 7th of 11, 10l behind Lily Of The Valley (8-11) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f flls Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct.
