keen, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, effort when short of room 1f out, soon switched right, ran on to take 2nd near finish
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, hung left and led again 1f out, soon headed, lost 2nd near finish
keen, held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
slowly into stride, keen, held up, ridden and headway well over 1f out, soon one pace
chased leader, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
close up, ridden and every chance over 2f out, one pace inside final furlong
Hasty Retreat may be able to make the best of his way home with Affrettando and the long absent Avertis potential dangers. The selection is due to be partnered by Jamie Spencer which is noteworthy enough but there's also plenty to recommend him on the book whilst the stable had a strong hand in this race at the five-day stage. He showed a modicum of ability in qualifying for a mark but left people in no doubt that he had ability when strolling clear to a three length success at Newcastle on his handicap bow. He's gone up by 7lbs but it will be disappointing if he can't prove a good deal better than his current mark in time and he should take all the beating. Avertis won his sole start at two and has to enter calculations with his yard going well but the form has taken more knocks than a front row forward; the second and third were last seen plying their trade in claiming company and it would be surprising were he to prove good enough. He could do no more than win though so he's accorded the benefit of the doubt for this start at least. Of more interest to us is Affrettando as he has looked to be quietly progressive on the all-weather surfaces and well worth a try at this longer trip. There should be more to come from him and he certainly appeals more than habitual losers El Dececy and Haasem but the selection may have the bookies beating a Hasty Retreat.
Haasem (USA) 7-1 (9-4) Behind, headway well over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Navene (8-9) at Yarmouth 1m hcap (6) gd in May.
El Dececy (USA) 8-1 (9-5) Led, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind It's A Dream (8-10) at Hamilton 1m hcap (5) gf.
Affrettando (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, switched right and kept on from over 1f out, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Newgate (7-13) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Apr.
Rockfield Lodge (IRE) 11-4 (9-1) Slowly into stride, in touch, effort and headway over 2f out, soon chasing winner, no extra close home, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Dhhamaan (9-7) at Kempton 7f 3yo clm (6) pol in Apr.
Avertis 6-1 (8-13) Mid-division on outside, headway 2f out, ridden to lead just inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Kempton 7f 2yo mdn auc (6) pol in Oct beating Locum (8-9) by a nk, 13 ran.
Hasty Retreat 8-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, driven clear over 1f out, stayed on well, readily, won at Newcastle 1m 3yo hcp (6) gf in May beating Castlebury (9-0) by 3l, 12 ran.
Zhebe 28-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, soon in mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 6l behind Everybody Knows (9-7) at Folkestone 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) gs.
Life's A Whirl 20-1 (8-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out, 11th of 14, 16l behind Navene (8-9) at Yarmouth 1m hcap (6) gd in May.
