prominent, led 5f out, headed 2f out, no extra final 100 yards
held up, ridden over 2f out, no impression, well beaten final furlong
close up on outside, ridden and edged left over 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, lost 2nd close home
tracked leaders on inside, ridden and edged right over 1f out, stayed on final 100 yards
held up, outpaced over 3f out, rallied over 1f out, stayed on, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, raced keenly, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten
led 1f, prominent, led again 2f out, ran on well
Absolute Champion steps up in class off a higher mark after scoring at Kempton and preference is for UPSTAGING in this. Paul Cole's colt has been thereabouts in similar company on the Turf of late and Cam Hardie's allowance further helps his cause. Secret Asset has slipped further down the weights as the veteran looks to end a long losing run but Colourbearer makes more appeal back on the all-weather having landed a hat-trick early in the year. Sir Billy Wright's only win to date came over track and trip in March but he remains 6lb higher.
Secret Asset (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on and no extra towards finish, 6th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Triple Chocolate (9-7) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Colourbearer (IRE) 3-1 (9-6) Half fly leapt leaving stalls and slowly away, held up in rear, ridden and well beaten over 1f out, 9th of 10, 21l behind Black Caesar (9-12) at Brighton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Jun.
Sir Billy Wright (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Close up, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 11, 4l behind Flexible Flyer (9-10) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Upstaging 7-2 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Mullionheir (9-7) at Windsor 6f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.
Gentlemen 25-1 (9-4) Always in rear, last of 13, 22l behind Direct Times (9-5) at Newmarket 6f app hcp (5) gd in May.
Absolute Champion (USA) 5-2fav (9-6) Held up, headway on wide outside over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong to lead final strides, won at Kempton 6f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jun beating Toast Of Newbury (8-11) by hd, 10 ran.
Memories Galore (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Slowly away raced wide towards rear, headway over 1f out, nearest finish, 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Atletico (9-5) at Wolverhampton 6f mdn stks (5) in Jun.