midfield but in touch, switched right to challenge 2f out, led inside final furlong, pushed along when hard pressed inside final 110 yards, joined and headed final strides, just failed
midfield on far rail, headway 2f out, ridden when short of room on rail 1f out, weakened inside final 110 yards
held up towards rear, steady headway from halfway, ridden when pressed leader inside final furlong, all out when led final strides, just prevailed
slowly away, behind early but still in touch, chased leaders 2f out, ridden final furlong, kept on for fifth inside final 110 yards
led, pushed along before 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on inside final 110 yards but not pace of front pair near finish
midfield, pushed along 3f out, moved to dispute before 1f out, drifted left inside final furlong, soon outpaced and weakened quickly inside final 110 yards
close up, pushed along 2f out, dropped to fourth when ridden inside final furlong, no extra near finish
A field of well-established handicappers, in which VAFORTINO may make up for a troubled run in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot, despite which he was still only beaten five lengths into tenth. He previously ran a cracker when third in the Victoria Cup and may outclass his rivals despite topweight. Bopedro finished two lengths ahead of him at Royal Ascot and must be considered but is more exposed then the De Foy charge. Indeed, course and distance winner, Northern Express finished ahead of both at the Royal meeting and seems sure to be in the shake-up once again, but is 3lb worse off with the topweight. It's a close call and the Dods gelding has to make any shortlist after such good runs this term. Another Investment coasted home here last time and remains interesting despite an 11lb hike.
Vafortino (IRE) 9-1 (9-10) Raced centre to far side, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 29, 4 3/4l behind Witch Hunter (9-10) at Ascot 7f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Bopedro (FR) 40-1 (9-8) Raced centre, off the pace in rear-division headway chasing leaders over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to challenge, 6th of 29, 3l behind Witch Hunter (9-10) at Ascot 7f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Northern Express (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Raced centre to far side, held up in group, headway and squeezed through chasing leaders 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge, 3rd of 29, 1 1/4l behind Witch Hunter (9-10) at Ascot 7f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Documenting 66-1 (9-7) Raced near side, held up towards rear, never on terms, 28th of 29, 17 1/4l behind Witch Hunter (9-10) at Ascot 7f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Gweedore 9-1 (9-9) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, soon headed, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 5 3/4l behind Ramazan (8-13) at Haydock 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Zip 9-2 (9-3) Towards rear on outer, headway when ridden over 3f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, kept on well inside final furlong but headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Adeb (8-12) at Newcastle 7f hcp (2) pol in Jul.
Another Investment (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Held up towards rear, smooth headway over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, ridden clear, won at York 7f hcp (3) gf in Jun beating No Nay Nicki (9-1) by 5l, 16 ran.
Able Kane 12-1 (9-7) Made all, pushed along over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Newmarket 7f hcp (3) gs in Jun beating Final Watch (9-8) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
