always towards rear, tailed off over 4f out
chased leaders, weakened 2f out
always behind
towards, ridden 4f out, some headway 2f out, no impression
mid-division, one pace from over 1f out
held up mid-division, smooth headway on outer over 3f out, shaken up to lead 1f out, driven out
prominent and raced wide for 3f, weakened over 2f out
led, ridden over 2f out, headed final furlong, rallied inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
stopped and refused to race soon after start
chased leaders, ridden over 5f out, weakened over 2f out
held up, headway over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, kept on
chased leaders, one pace final 2f
held up mid-division, weakened over 3f out
held up, headway over 3f out, one pace
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong
Speedy Sam can land this renewal of the John Smith's Cup. Greek Well, Pevensey and Hitchcock make it to the shortlist. Karl Burke has his stable in fine fettle at the moment and this appears to have been the plan for the selection for some time. He wasn't at his best on the all-weather earlier this season, however he has some good form on soft ground, has won over this distance and perhaps most importantly he has a low draw. Although the 2004 and 2005 winners of this race had high draws, a low draw is normally the way to go. Greek Well must be respected from his powerful stable given the fact that he has won his last two and shapes as if there is more to come. On breeding he should handle the ground and with the claim of William Buick, he must be a real danger. Hassaad has disappointed twice and must now be opposed from his poor draw, along with front-runner Luberon. Emirates Skyline has a visor on to help him concentrate, whilst Fortunate Isle chases the hat-trick but this is obviously tougher. Avoriaz is unexposed but doesn't look the most straight-forward of characters whilst Fort Churchill dotted up last time out and, effective on this ground, he must be respected. Pevensey has a 5lb penalty for his win at Royal Ascot when heavily gambled but the feeling is that the shortening of the race (due to waterlogged parts of the track) may not suit him as he really needs a strongly run mile and a half. Charlie Tokyo is yet another to consider, however Speedy Sam is taken to score at a price.
Luberon 16-1 (9-4) Prominent, ridden and every chance 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 8, 24l behind Scriptwriter (8-10) at Hamilton 1m 4f lst hcp (1) gd in May.
Flipando (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Raced centre and held up, good headway from 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ran on final furlong, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 26, 4l behind Royal Oath (9-0) at Ascot 1m hcap (2) gf in Jun.
Hitchcock (USA) 9-2 (9-2) Mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, headway and switched left over 1f out, stayed on strongly, just failed, 3rd of 14, nk behind Pevensey (8-10) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Jun.
Pevensey (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) Held up towards rear, headway and not clear run briefly over 3f out, ridden to chase leader 2f out, led inside final furlong, all out, won at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Jun beating Solent (9-2) by a hd, 14 ran.
Speedy Sam 28-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, lost place well over 2f out, last of 12, 5l behind Gentleman's Deal (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) pol in Mar.
Charlie Tokyo (IRE) 4-1 (8-10) Raced keenly, steadied into mid-division, headway on outside over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 3l behind Temple Place (8-6) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in May.
Fortunate Isle (USA) 7-2 (9-6) Made all, pushed along over 2f out, driven over 1f out, kept on gamely final furlong, won at Ripon 1m 1f hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Jun beating Full Victory (8-8) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Flying Clarets (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Mid-division until weakened from well over 2f out, 15th of 16, 23l behind Nosferatu (8-12) at Epsom 1m 4f hcap (2) gd in Jun.
Smart Instinct (USA) 8-1 (8-10) Held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, headway final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 13, 4l behind Tobosa (9-7) at Haydock 1m 3yo hcp (2) gf in May.
Avoriaz (IRE) 13-2 (9-7) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, kept on well, won at Ayr 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun beating Shy Glance (8-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Bailieborough (IRE) 9-2 (9-11) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on, 5th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Just Bond (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jun.
Collateral Damage (IRE) 7-4fav (9-3) Held up behind leaders, ridden along 3f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Fortunate Isle (9-6) at Ripon 1m 1f hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Jun.
Kyoto Summit 25-1 (9-2) Never better than mid-division, 12th of 15, 15l behind High Treason (8-8) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in May.
Folio (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Always rear division, 8th of 10, 13l behind Dunaskin (10-0) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gs in Jun.
Resonate (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Held up, headway over 4f out, stayed on to take 3rd near finish, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Lake Poet (9-5) at Epsom 1m 2f hcap (2) gs in Jun.
Greek Well (IRE) Evensfav (9-5) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ran on strongly, cleverly, won at Sandown 1m 2f hcap (4) gd in Jun beating Brief Goodbye (9-1) by a nk, 5 ran.
Hassaad 11-8fav (9-4) Held up well in rear, headway on wide outside from 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never reached challenging position, 6th of 15, 5l behind Pintle (9-3) at Sandown 1m hcap (3) gd in Jun.
Emirates Skyline (USA) 3-1fav (9-0) Held up, headway over 2f out, soon hung right, chased leaders over 1f out, not pace to challenge, 5th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Championship Point (9-2) at Ascot 1m 2f lst hcp (1) gs in Jun.
Star of Light 13-2 (9-11) Took keen hold behind, ridden 3f out, not quicken, 7th of 8, 7l behind Mariotto (9-1) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) sft.
Fort Churchill (IRE) 7-2fav (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway 3f out, led over 1f out, drifted left and stayed on strongly, comfortably, won at Goodwood 1m 2f hcap (4) gd in Jun beating Lisathedaddy (9-4) by 5l, 11 ran.
