led far side group, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders stand side, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led stand side group, headed over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
mid-division stand side, effort over 2f out, never near to challenge
stumbled at start, towards rear far side, soon pushed along, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous, stand side
held up behind leader far side, led overall 2f out, ridden and kept on gamely final furlong
in touch far side, ridden and edged right over 1f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders to halfway stand side
chased leaders far side, ridden and hung right over 1f out, no extra final furlong
always behind stand side
mid-division far side, driven along over 2f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong
in touch stand side, pushed along halfway, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, chased winner home
towards rear far side, headway 2f out, hampered and switched left over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
prominent stand side, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders far side, effort over 2f out, no impression
Ifraaj, Soldier's Tale and Eisteddfod form our three against the field in the Wokingham, with the vote going to Ifraaj. A lightly-raced, well-bred, progressive colt in the hands of a leading trainer, well, Ifraaj has all the right credentials to make use of a handicap mark that probably understates his talents. As such he gets the call. Of course, Soldier's Tale has a similar profile and is a horse that we like a lot so this course and distance winner is very much respected. Eisteddfod came good in pretty good style at Goodwood last time, and even though he carries an eight-pound penalty for that win, he can still go well. Moayed is now six pounds better off with the selection for the two lengths that he was beaten by him at Lingfield and he can go well, but we'll stick with the selection. Of the others, Caribbean Coral is now back to a fair mark and it would be no surprise to see him go well at a big price, while Smokin Beau is well-handicapped based on his very good form of last summer. Peter Paul Rubens is another high-class performer in the making, although maybe he'll prove better at seven furlongs. Overall, though, we will side with Ifraaj.
Fire Up The Band 14-1 (9-9) Made all, ran on well under pressure final furlong, all out, won at Epsom 5f hcp (2) gd beating Peace Offering (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 20 ran.
Royal Storm (IRE) 11-2 (9-7) Held up in mid-division, effort and every chance 2f out, ran on one pace under hard driving final furlong, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Leitrim House (9-3) at Salisbury 6f 3yo lst stk (1) gf.
Peter Paul Rubens (USA) 7-1 (9-1) Chased leader over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 2l behind Baltic King (9-1) at Windsor 6f lst stk (1) gf in May.
Chookie Heiton (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Raced far side, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 24th of 30, 11l behind Indian Trail (8-6) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Alderney Race (USA) 7-1jt-fav (9-8) Raced far side, always prominent, ridden over 2f out, stayed on one pace final furlong, 4th of 30, 4l behind Indian Trail (8-6) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Country Reel (USA) 7-1 (9-1) Tracked leader to over 4f out, stayed prominent, hard ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 6l behind Baltic King (9-1) at Windsor 6f lst stk (1) gf in May.
Iffraaj 11-4fav (8-7) Prominent in centre, smooth headway to lead 2f out, soon in command, ran on well, won at Lingfield 7f hcp (2) gd in May beating Moayed (8-5) by 2l, 18 ran.
Talbot Avenue 100-1 (9-4) Pressed winner to over 1f out, weakened quickly, 10th of 13, 7l behind Celtic Mill (9-4) at Sandown 5f Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
Smokin Beau 11-2 (9-1) Close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 9, 4 1/2l behind Corridor Creeper (9-6) at Haydock 5f hcp (2) gf in May.
Halmahera (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Reared start, held up in rear, switched right over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 9th of 19, 6l behind Eisteddfod (9-7) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gd in May.
Continent 25-1 (9-11) Slowly into stride, took keen hold and held up in rear, effort into mid-division halfway, weakened and eased when no chance over 1f out, last of 15, 10l behind Gift Horse (9-6) at Epsom 6f hcp (2) gd.
River Falcon 11-2 (9-9) Behind, ridden 2f out, headway on inner approaching final furlong, ran on inside final furlong, 5th of 17, 1l behind Bond Boy (8-4) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in May.
Beckermet (IRE) 22-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders far side group, ridden well over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, just held close home, 2nd of 19, nk behind Orphan (7-12) at Ripon 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Caribbean Coral 13-2fav (9-1) Slowly into stride, towards rear, kept on final furlong, never dangerous, 11th of 20, 5l behind Fire Up The Band (9-9) at Epsom 5f hcp (2) gd.
Moayed 14-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride and behind, headway over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on final furlong, never troubled leaders, 7th of 23, 6l behind Jedburgh (9-8) at York 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Colonel Cotton (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Chased leaders to over 1f out, not quicken under pressure, one pace final furlong, 5th of 20, 3 1/2l behind Fire Up The Band (9-9) at Epsom 5f hcp (2) gd.
Whistler 16-1 (9-5) Behind, chased leaders halfway, no extra inside final furlong, 9th of 17, 4l behind Bond Boy (8-4) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in May.
Eisteddfod 5-1jt-fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, squeezed through to lead approaching final furlong, ran on well, won at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gd in May beating Viking Spirit (8-5) by 1 1/2l, 19 ran.
Soldier's Tale (USA) 6-1 (8-12) Held up, switched right to stands' side over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on final furlong to lead post, won at York 6f hcp (2) gs in May beating Fonthill Road (8-6) by a shd, 19 ran.
Lafi (IRE) 7-1jt-fav (9-3) Raced stands' side, chased leaders 4f, 26th of 30, 13l behind Indian Trail (8-6) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gf in Apr.
