led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
rear of mid-division, niggled along over 5f out, well beaten over 2f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, ran on final 100 yards, went 2nd close home
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 3rd close home
mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, ran on final 100 yards
mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
always prominent, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, ran on well
held up in rear, some headway over 2f out, not clear run and switched left over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
prominent, driven over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong
Excel Again has won twice on Tapeta at Newcastle and is one of several interesting three-year-olds in this. Dubai Elegance is another, despite making a belated reappearance, and First Up only found one too good on his first run since being gelded at Epsom. Glorious Artist won over 7f here in April and hasn’t been disgraced in a couple of starts since but PUSHAQ could be another for the McCann raiding party given he’s won two of his previous five starts here and been placed in another couple. Toga Tiger is preferred to Palmerston of the others.
Count Montecristo (FR) 17-2 (10-0) Tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened, last of 8, 20 1/4l behind Le Chat D'or (9-13) at Ayr 1m hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Palmerston 5-1 (9-13) Close up, challenged over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 4 3/4l behind See The Master (9-1) at Nottingham 1m hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Pushaq (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Raced 3rd on outer, ran freely in 4th after 1 1/2f, pushed along 2f out, soon ridden, progress to 3rd final 150 yards, no impression on leaders, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Mainicin (9-1) at Navan 1m 2f hcp gf in Jul.
Toga Tiger (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Towards rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace in 4th place, 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Sunglider (9-4) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Idol Deputy (FR) 25-1 (9-6) In touch on outer, lost place over 2f out, soon behind, 9th of 12, 9 3/4l behind Pushaq (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Excel Again 11-8fav (8-13) Tracked leaders, headway to lead over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, held on towards finish, won at Newcastle 1m hcp (4) pol in Jun beating Amood (9-10) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Soldier's Girl (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Awkwardly away, held up in last pair, ridden 2f out, never a threat, 9th of 10, 13 1/2l behind Mittens (9-2) at Ascot 1m hcp fll (3) gd in Jul.
Glorious Artist (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Close up, ridden 2f out, no impression, 5th of 7, 2 1/2l behind City Of Joy (9-1) at Doncaster 1m hcp (3) gf in May.
First Up (IRE) 13-8fav (9-7) Tracked leader 4f, 2nd again inside final 3f, ridden to lead inside final 2f, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Thundering Blue (9-10) at Epsom 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Dubai Elegance 6-5fav (9-6) Prominent, ridden and every chance 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 4 3/4l behind Textured (9-1) at Newcastle 7f (4) pol in Nov.
