held up in touch, switched left 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reached leader
chased leader, led 2f out, driven and ran on inside final furlong
slowly into stride, held up in rear, ran on inside final furlong
held up, driven on outside over 2f out, soon beaten
chased leaders, outpaced when not clear run from over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd final stride
chased leaders over 3f
led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened
held up and always in rear
in touch, effort on 2f out, soon chasing winner, upside inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd final stride
It will be interesting to see how Bygone Days gets on making his seasonal reappearance having shown progressive form late on last season but Godolphin's gelding would probably prefer more cut in the ground and preference is for Baltic King, who gets the vote ahead of Borderlescott. The last mentioned lost no caste in defeat behind Sierra Vista (a winner since) at Haydock last month and has to be respected on that evidence. Robin Bastiman's gelding makes more appeal than Richard Hannon's Assertive who consistently found the frame without winning last term and may have to settle for minor honours again. Fayr Jag is capable but inconsistent, while Kostar may find the opposition too testing for him. Baltic King ran promisingly on his reappearance and, with more improvement to come for the run, he looks worth a wager here.
Bygone Days 7-2fav (9-1) Held up in rear, headway from over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to lead post, won at Newmarket 6f Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct beating Borderlescott (9-1) by a shd, 14 ran.
Assertive 14-1 (9-2) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, one pace, 5th of 17, 3l behind Amadeus Wolf (9-2) at York 6f Grp 2 (1) gd in May.
Balthazaar's Gift (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 6l behind Munaddam (9-7) at Haydock 7f lst stk (1) gd in May.
Baltic King 15-2 (9-8) Held up, switched right and headway over 1f out, stayed on well, never nearer, 4th of 12, 5l behind Asset (9-4) at Newmarket 6f lst stk (1) gf in Apr.
Borderlescott 6-5fav (9-0) With leader and keen, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken final strides, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Sierra Vista (8-9) at Haydock 6f stk (2) gd in May.
Fayr Jag (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 8th of 17, 5l behind Amadeus Wolf (9-2) at York 6f Grp 2 (1) gd in May.
Kostar 6-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden and hung left over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 8, 4 1/2l behind Sierra Vista (8-9) at Haydock 6f stk (2) gd in May.
Prince Woodman (USA) 33-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, in rear and pulled hard, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, 6th of 8, 2l behind Sierra Vista (8-9) at Haydock 6f stk (2) gd in May.
Something (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Raced far side, prominent, led that group over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 16th of 26, 5l behind Mutamared (8-11) at Newmarket 6f hcap (2) gf in May '06.
