raced in 4th until pushed along before halfway, soon struggling, tailed off
tracked leaders, went 2nd 6f out until over 2f out, soon weakened under pressure, beaten when rider lost reins inside final furlong
held up in 7th, steady headway over 5f out, effort on outer over 2f out, driven to lead over 1f out, stayed on well
tracked leader to 6f out, remained prominent, ridden to challenge over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
led at decent pace, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
close up, ridden to challenge and hung left from over 2f out, chased winner entering final furlong, no impression and lost 2nd near finish
slowly into stride, held up well in rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
held up in 6th, pushed along 3f out, soon struggling, tailed off
Nonrunner
Another tight affair on paper, and only narrow preference is for Nightspot over Russian Epic, Beverly Hill Billy and Mutual Friend. Since scoring on softish ground at Newbury in May, Nightspot has run well in defeat on faster going at Chepstow and Haydock, and although higher in the weights now, Eve Johnson Houghton's charge has conditions to suit and is taken to bounce back. Russian Epic should be suited by the step back up in trip after finishing third over nine-furlongs at Sandown, but his earlier Leicester success over Taghreed has since been let down by the runner-up, which is a bit off-putting. Beverly Hill Billy has yet to tackle ground this soft, but should at least improve for his Chepstow return, while Mutual Friend failed dismally on his sole try on this sort of going. Mind you, that was on his debut, and he has since gone on to open his account. His stable is in form as well, so he has to be included in calculations, but we shall remain on the side of Nightspot.
Red Somerset (USA) 33-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 15, 9l behind Nawaqees (8-6) at Goodwood 1m hcap (4) gd in May.
Transvestite (IRE) 11-4 (9-6) Held up, effort and headway on outside over 2f out, soon one pace, 5th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Top Mark (9-7) at Kempton 1m 2f app hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Mull of Dubai 12-1 (8-5) Towards rear, not much room over 5f out, ridden and headway well over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Tcherina (8-2) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
Russian Epic 11-4jt-fav (8-9) Tracked leaders, effort 2f out, stayed on under pressure to take 3rd towards finish, not reach leaders, 3rd of 8, 1l behind One Hour (9-6) at Sandown 1m 1f 3yo hcp (3) gs in Jun.
Mutual Friend (USA) 5-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 1f out, slightly hampered final furlong, held, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Guiseppe Verdi (9-7) at Kempton 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Beverly Hill Billy 3-1 (9-1) Keen and chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Lazy Darren (9-2) at Chepstow 1m 3yo hcp (4) gf in May.
General Knowledge (USA) 50-1 (9-0) Chased winner to 2f out, weakened rapidly, last of 15, 24l behind Pintle (9-3) at Sandown 1m hcap (3) gd in Jun.
Nightspot 9-2 (8-9) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Peruvian Prince (8-13) at Haydock 1m 3f hcap (4) gf in Jun.
