steadied start, held up in rear, smooth headway on outside well over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on well
tracked leading trio, pressing leaders and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up in close 5th on inside, headway far side over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace of winner
tracked leading pair, went 2nd over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace of winner
led at steady pace, quickened over 4f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, chased leaders and still every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
took keen hold, tracked leader, pushed along and lost 2nd over 3f out, chased leading pair, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in 6th, ridden and hung left over 2f out, soon beaten
Questions can be asked of most of these so it's only a tentative vote that goes ITLAAQ's way. A winner over 1m4f on his reappearance, he was always going to struggle dropping back in trip at this track last time and so it proved. However, Mick Easterby's charge did finish ahead of both Blue Bajan and High Office when third over 1m6f at Haydock last season and is just preferred to the returning Montaser. The latter scored twice last year before ending the season with a below par effort in the Cesarewitch while stablemate Martin Chuzzlewit usually runs well here but the likely fast ground is a worry for him. Quixote has improved for the step up to 2m of late but hurdler All The Aces hasn't won on the Flat since 2009.
Montaser (IRE) 10-1 (8-0) Mid-division, outpaced over 4f out, soon beaten, weakened 3f out, 27th of 34, well behind Aaim To Prosper (9-10) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Blue Bajan (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Mid-division on inside, switched left over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, no impression, 6th of 34, 14l behind Aaim To Prosper (9-10) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Itlaaq 20-1 (8-13) Close up, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 10l behind First Mohican (9-7) at York 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in May.
Quixote 14-1 (9-5) Unseated rider on way to post, held up towards rear, headway on inside 3f out, squeezed through 2f out, went 2nd and bumped over 1f out, chased winner and every chance throughout final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 13, shd behind Homeric (9-4) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in May.
All The Aces (IRE) 40-1 (9-7) Mid-division, lost place 3f out, 9th of 12, 13l behind No Heretic (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in May.
Martin Chuzzlewit (IRE) 11-2 (8-10) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Sir John Hawkwood (9-12) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) sft in May.
High Office 10-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, led entering final furlong, headed towards finish, ran on, 2nd of 12, nk behind Sirvino (8-11) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May.
Lady Kashaan (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway 3f out, weakened entering final 2f, soon eased, 9th of 13, 22l behind Tiger Cliff (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in May.
