held up in rear, headway from over 2f out, ridden and edged left from 2f out, kept on one pace
led at steady pace, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, pushed along over 4f out, weakened over 1f out
keen in touch, chased leader 6f out, led 2f out, ran on, comfortably
keen in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
keen, held up in rear, headway on inside 2f out, chased winner approaching final furlong, kept on, no chance with winner
keen, chased leader until 6f out, remained prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong
We will stick with Sir Michael Stoute's Stage Gift in this handicap, with his biggest dangers possibly proving to be Airbuss and Nihal. Stage Gift won more easily than the bare margin might suggest at Kempton last time, having been well-touted beforehand. With the third from that race having been beaten from a mark of 81 last time, he will need to have improved on that win, but that is entirely possible and he still looks reasonably treated. His biggest dangers might prove to be the Haynes, Hanson and Clark fourth, Merveilles, Ripon winner Conkering, who showed decent juvenile form and looked last time as though a step up to this trip would suit, Airbuss, who won emphatically at Epsom last time - although this looks tougher - and Nihal, who made a fair return for the season when second at Redcar last time and looks a tough sort. The others, for us, need to find something in order to trouble the selection while Doctor Scott looks to be Mark Johnston's second string. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Stage Gift.
Merveilles 10-3 (8-10) Soon chased leaders, hard ridden and stayed on same pace final 2f, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Winged Cupid (9-1) at Newbury 1m 2yo stk (3) gf in Sept.
Doctor Scott 14-1 (8-1) Pressed leader, ridden 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, 6th of 8, 8l behind dhtrs Yarqus (8-4) & King's Head (8-7) at Sandown 1m 3yo hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Nihal (IRE) 13-2 (9-1) Tracked leader, driven 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, nk behind Pearly King (9-4) at Redcar 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) frm.
Stage Gift (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (8-9) Held up, headway 8f out, ridden and hung left over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on, won at Kempton 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Apr beating Giving (9-0) by 1l, 9 ran.
Mujood 20-1 (9-2) Held up, ridden and effort over 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, 4th of 5, 4 1/2l behind Snoqualmie Boy (9-4) at Salisbury 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) frm.
Lake Poet (IRE) 12-1 (8-10) Held up well in rear, headway on outer over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 9, 8l behind Kalankari (9-1) at Kempton 1m 3yo hcp (4) pol.
Airbuss (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Slowly into stride, headway over 2f out, led and edged left from over 1f out, ridden out, won at Epsom 1m 1f 3yo hcp (5) gd in Apr beating Burnbank (9-1) by 2l, 13 ran.
Conkering (USA) 5-2 (9-3) Chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at Ripon 1m 3yo mdn (5) sft in Apr beating Angel Voices (8-12) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
