in touch in rear, ridden 2f out, never a factor
tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on one pace
close up, wide into straight 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon edged left, ran on
broke smartly, led, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra
tracked leader, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
Count Montecristo was placed over 1m2f at Ripon recently and drops back in distance but Ballard Down finished runner-up over a mile at Kempton last time and is preferred. Mikmak still looks a shade high in the weights on last year’s placed efforts and the same can be said of Bold Prediction but General Macarthur drops in class having failed to figure in handicaps at Meydan earlier in the year. MAKZEEM was beaten only a length in a higher grade at Newmarket in October but he still gets the vote on his first start since given Roger Charlton’s yard has hit top form in the last few days.
General Macarthur (USA) 25-1 (8-13) 7th of 14, 3 3/4l behind Bravo Zolo (9-5) at Meydan 1m hcp fst in Feb.
Makzeem 7-2fav (8-13) Raced stand side, tracked leaders, switched to centre group over 5f out, in touch, headway 2f out, ridden to lead overall over 1f out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Greenside (9-2) at Newmarket 1m hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Ballard Down (IRE) 15-2 (9-6) Towards rear, driven and headway 1f out, ran on well, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind The Warrior (9-6) at Kempton 1m hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Bold Prediction (IRE) 16-1 (8-5) Led, headed 5f out, ridden over 2f out, led again well over 1f out, soon headed, no extra inside final 100 yards, 6th of 11, 5l behind Oh This Is Us (9-10) at Bath 1m hcp (2) fm in Apr.
Mikmak 7-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, keen and soon in mid-division, headway on inside tracking leaders and switched left over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out until entering final furlong, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Presumido (9-3) at Kempton 1m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Count Montecristo (FR) 6-1 (8-11) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Uae Prince (9-7) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Apr.