held up behind leaders, ridden along over 3f out, one pace until weakened final furlong
held up in rear, smooth headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong to lead post
in touch, ridden when outpaced over 3f out, driven and kept on final furlong
led steady pace, quickened clear 4f out, driven over 1f out, kept on final furlong, was headed post
took keen hold in touch, ridden over 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong
held up, effort over 3f out, never troubled leaders
tracked leader, ridden along 3f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, effort on outer over 3f out, no impression
Honolulu has his seasonal reappearance here and can take The Yorkshire Cup at the expense of Royal And Regal and Geordieland. The selection was good enough to finish third to Lucarno in the St Leger last year and although favourite to land a Group 3 at Ascot thereafter he was not totally discredited back in third. They sent him over to Woodbine for the Canadian International on his final start where he failed to sparkle. He does have the form pick in the race and if back to his best he has every chance of landing this. Royal And Regal was successful for Andre Fabre before joining Michael Jarvis this season. He won the Group 3 Jockey Club stakes at Newmarket last year and landed another Group 3 event at Newbury on his first start for new connections. He looks as though he could develop into a decent Cup horse this season and will have his supporters in this race too. Geordieland was second in the Ascot Gold Cup behind Yeats last year and then went on to run well in the Goodwood and Doncaster equivalent. He was though beaten when a long odds on shot in a two mile conditions stakes at Pontefract on his final start suggesting that getting his head in front is not an easy thing to do. Winless in all his ten races he therefore has to be treated with some caution. So for the winner we return to Honolulu.
Alfie Flits 6-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 4th approaching straight, soon ridden, close 3rd and challenged 1 1/2f out, kept on, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Yeats (9-8) at Navan 1m 5f lst stk gs in Apr.
Geordieland (FR) 1-4fav (9-3) Steadied at start, held up towards rear, headway and brought wide over 2f out, hung right and one pace final furlong, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Love Brothers (8-6) at Pontefract 2m 2f stk (3) gf in Oct.
Honolulu (IRE) 9-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride and pushed along, last to straight, never a factor, 8th of 12, 4l behind Cloudy's Knight (9-0) at Woodbine 1m 4f Grp 1 std in Oct.
Royal And Regal (IRE) 13-2 (9-0) Mid-division, closer order over 4f out, went 2nd and ridden over 2f out, soon hung left, led inside final furlong, stayed on, ridden out, won at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) sft in Apr beating Zaham (8-11) by a nk, 14 ran.
Samuel 40-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 16l behind Lucarno (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 1 (1) gf in Sept.
Sergeant Cecil 33-1 (8-12) Soon held up towards rear, weakened 3f out, 12th of 14, 21l behind Royal And Regal (9-0) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) sft in Apr.
Young Mick 14-1 (8-12) Took keen hold, in touch, effort 3f out, hard ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 10l behind Spanish Moon (8-12) at Ascot 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf.
Veenwouden 9-2 (8-8) Held up in rear, effort over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 7, 21l behind Gull Wing (8-6) at Nottingham 1m 6f lst stk (1) sft in Apr.
