tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, held on
held up, ridden and weakened over 3f out
held up, headway over 3f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, stayed on, unable to get on terms with front pair
never going that well in rear, weakened 4f out, eased over 2f out
pushed along brielfy leaving stalls, tracked leader, led 4f out, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, squeezed for room inside final furlong, ran on, just held
led, ridden and headed 4f out, weakened over 2f out
The handicapper will catch up with Alcaeus at some stage and he'll be a short price here. A four-timer is still a possibility for Sir Mark Prescott's colt but this is a little more competitive than recent starts. Afro scrambled home on soft ground on her reappearance at Lingfield when Vandross finished third but NATEEJA is another who has improved since stepping up in trip. She got outpaced over 1m4f when fifth at Lingfield last time so the extra quarter-mile today should be right up her street. Deficit and Alshan Fajer have place claims again and look best of the rest.
Alcaeus 7-4fav (9-4) Held up in touch, led 3f out, hung left inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating Kastini (8-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Bold Assertion 40-1 (9-6) Held up, ridden over 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 5th of 8, 9l behind Chocala (9-7) at Nottingham 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) sft in May.
Deficit (IRE) 3-1fav (9-0) In rear, headway to track leaders 3f out, ridden and no impression 2f out, driven inside final furlong, stayed on to go 2nd near finish, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Chocala (9-7) at Nottingham 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) sft in May.
Vandross (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on well, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Afro (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) sft in May.
Nateeja (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Close up in 5th, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and no impression over 2f out, edged right and outpaced inside final 2f, stayed on again inside final furlong, never going pace to threaten, 5th of 14, 4l behind Getaway Car (9-2) at Salisbury 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gd in May.
Helamis 3-1fav (9-1) Mid-division, under pressure 5f out, soon no impression, 7th of 10, 17l behind Afro (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) sft in May.
Afro 7-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, pushed along over 5f out, driven to challenge over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon rallied, kept on under pressure to lead close home, won at Lingfield 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) sft in May beating Whitefall (8-8) by shd, 10 ran.
Alshan Fajer 7-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7f out, led entering final 3f, ridden and headed over 1f out, chased winner and rallying when bumped final 100 yards, held final strides, 2nd of 14, hd behind Getaway Car (9-2) at Salisbury 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gd in May.
