led, ridden over 2f out, headed 1f out, one pace
held up, ridden and headway well over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, stayed on
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, ran on towards finish
held up, effort over 1f out, eased when beaten inside final furlong
chased leader, led 1f out, pushed out
In this valuable race, Nayyir is selected ahead of Appalachian Trail. This is a smashing race and it presents Nayyir with a great chance of winning a race for the first time since he landed a Group 2 contest in 2003. To be fair, he has run some excellent races in defeat since then, has an all-weather win at Lingfield to his name and official ratings give him an outstanding chance. A useful handicapper, Impeller holds chances of being next best based on adjusted official ratings, but he is nought from two in two all-weather runs. Not so with the course and distance winner Appalachian Trail who could give the selection most to do. Always Esteemed has two-and-a-half lengths to find with him based on that run. All in all, though, Nayyir holds leading claims and gets the vote.
Always Esteemed (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Chased leader, every chance 1f out, held when hampered inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 4l behind Cimyla (9-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f Cond Stakes (2) pol in Jan.
Appalachian Trail (IRE) 4-1 (9-11) Held up, headway on inside over 1f out, every chance inside last, no extra, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Cimyla (9-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f Cond Stakes (2) pol in Jan.
Impeller (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, ridden and no real impression final 2f, 10th of 15, 10l behind Khyber Kim (8-10) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Oct.
Hurricane Coast 5-1jt-fav (9-8) Held up, keen, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, won at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol in Jan beating Play Master (9-0) by a nk, 13 ran.
Nayyir 2-1fav (8-12) Started slowly, in rear, progress 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 8, 2l behind Arakan (8-12) at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 (1) gd in Sept.