held up in rear, driven over 2f out and soon beaten
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway on wide outside to chase leader over 2f out, driven to lead 1f out, drew clear inside final furlong
chased leader to 2f out, weakened and eased final furlong
soon led, stayed alone on stand rail on straight, headed inside final 2f, stayed challenging until no extra inside final furlong
took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden 3f out, outpaced final 2f
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced inside final 3f, driven and stayed on inside final furlong
held up, driven and effort on outside over 2f out, soon beaten
held up, driven 3f out, soon beaten
held up, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten
slowly into stride, soon recovered and in touch, headway on outside to chase leaders 3f out, led inside final 2f, headed 1f out, outpaced and no chance with winner final furlong
From a short list of three in a tricky event, Queen's Best is suggested ahead of Orchard Supreme and Cactus King. The lightly-raced and well-bred Queen's Best catches the eye here on her handicap debut for Sir Michael Stoute. Two runs and one win last season marked her down as a filly of interest for this year, and we will support her tonight. Orchard Supreme's all-weather form is pretty smart and it will be interesting to see if he can transfer it to Turf. La Mottie's last run came at Group level so she must be pretty well regarded, and Jeremy Noseda also runs Scot Love, while Charlton is dropping to a more reasonable mark now but is held by Orchard Supreme on all-weather form. Celebration Song was beaten from today's mark last time, while Cactus King remains lightly raced and is open to improvement for John Gosden. Mind you, those same comments apply equally as well to Lunar Express, Days Of My Love, and the first-time visored Fire Two. Glenmuir and Pommes Frites are more exposed but, on the upside more battle hardened, which all adds up to a competitive race, in which Queen's Best is the selection.
Orchard Supreme 11-2 (8-7) Took keen hold, in touch on inner, quickened to lead between horses inside final furlong, strongly pressed, held on gamely near finish, won at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (3) pol in May beating Easy Air (8-10) by a hd, 7 ran.
Celebration Song (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Tracked winner, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Sands of Barra (8-6) at Yarmouth 7f 3yo hcp (4) gf in May.
Cactus King 13-2 (8-8) Held up in touch, chased leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Levera (9-2) at Newmarket 7f 3yo hcp (2) sft in May.
Lunar Express (USA) 7-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, chased winner inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, just held, 2nd o 12, nk behind Namid Reprobate (9-3) at Kempton 7f 3yo hcp (4) pol in May.
Days of My Life (IRE) 11-4 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, led 2f out, kept on, won at Goodwood 7f 3yo hcp (4) sft in May beating Dune Melody (8-8) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Scot Love (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden, headway over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 7l behind Reem Three (8-11) at York 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) gs in May.
Fire Two 6-1 (9-4) In touch, reminders halfway, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Flying Clarets (8-5) at Ripon 1m 3yo hcp (4) gd in May.
Queen's Best Evensfav (8-9) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead entering final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 6f 2yo mdn (5) gs in Oct beating Danawi (9-0) by 2l, 12 ran.
