in rear, mistake 1st, hampered next, behind form 4th
prominent, went 2nd before 6th, ridden after 3 out, no impression flat, one pace
made all, jumped slowly 2nd, not fluent last 3, clear flat, ran on
held up, took keen hold, headway when jumped left into rival 2nd, rider having tack problems briefly, went 2nd next until before 6th, soon weakened, left poor 3rd 3 out, fell last
prominent, not fluent 1st, jumped slowly and lost place next, behind 4th, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, awkward, bumped and unseated rider 2nd
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, went 3rd 6th, soon weakened, still 3rd when put off by loose horse and ran out 3 out
chased leaders, jumped badly right and lost place 2nd, behind from 4th, poor 4th when put off by loose horse and other rival and refused 3 out
in rear, slow and jumped right, behind from 3rd, left poor 3rd last
Bleu Astral was the highest rated of these on the Flat but that's not saying much. Directional is yet another Godolphin cast-off inherited by John Ferguson but he lacked the class of most of his new stable-mates on the level. VENTURA CASTLE had to be dropped into a seller to get off the mark on the Polytrack in April but followed up in a similar grade on Turf at Ripon. He's changed stables yet again but looks the answer to this unless the market suggests otherwise. Smugglers Lane has won twice over 1m4f on Polytrack so also warrants a mention and he's preferred to David Evans' other runner Fast Scat and the miler Dominada.
Bleu Astral (FR) 9-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 7l behind Kaufmann (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo mdn auc stks (6) in Dec (flat).
Directional 7-1 (9-1) Mid-division, driven over 3f out, never on terms weakened over 1f out, 12th of 13, 14l behind Duc de Seville (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-60 (6) in Dec (flat).
Dominada (IRE) 15-2 (9-7) In touch, effort over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 10l behind Miss Van Gogh (8-13) at Ripon 1m 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gs (flat).
Rokbaan 33-1 (9-0) Behind, headway on inside over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, never reached leaders, 7th of 12, 16l behind Kerrymerry (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (0-55) (6) pol (flat).
Royal Street 20-1 (8-0) Last pair, ridden on outside and beaten 3f out, 9th of 11, 31l behind Christmas Hamper (9-2) at Salisbury 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf in May (flat).
Smugglers Lane (IRE) 2-1fav (9-0) Chased leaders, hard driven 3f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on under pressure to lead inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo sell stks (6) pol beating Lorelei (8-4) by nk, 6 ran (flat).
Ventura Castle 7-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, pushed along over 3f out, led and edged right over 1f out, soon clear, won at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo & 4yo sll (6) sft in May beating Ronya (9-2) by 6l, 7 ran (flat).
Auld Fyffee (IRE) 28-1 (8-5) Pushed along halfway, always towards rear, tailed off, 12th of 15, 28l behind Sampera (9-7) at Leicester 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf in May (flat).
Fast Scat (USA) 20-1 (9-0) Behind, outpaced over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on into mid-division inside final furlong, never near leaders, 8th of 13, 7l behind What Usain (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) (flat).
