held up behind, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression
held up mid-division on outside, headway 3f out, ridden to lead 1f out, soon clear, ran on well
tracked leaders, driven and lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, eased final furlong, tailed off
tracked leaders, lost place 7f out, ridden and no impression final 2f
raced keenly, mid-division on inside, headway to track leaders over 6f out, ridden 2f out, soon one pace, weakened final furlong
mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong to take 2nd final 50 yards, no impression with winner
towards rear, ridden 3f out, never near leaders
mid-division, outpaced over 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace under pressure final furlong, never troubled leaders
in touch, driven over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on into 4th inside final furlong, never reached leaders
switched right soon after start, held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, lost place over 2f out, weakened and eased 1f out
towards rear, outpaced 4f out, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, ridden to chase leaders inside final 2f, kept on same pace, never on terms
tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 2f out to over 1f out, soon lost place, weakened inside final furlong
held up behind, headway into mid-division on outside over 6f out, lost place 3f out, soon behind, eased 1f out
led, ridden and headed 1f out, soon no chance with winner, no extra and dropped to 5th final 50 yards
tracked leaders, headway 2f out, ridden and effort to challenge over 1f out, no chance with winner when went 2nd briefly inside final furlong, no extra in 3rd final 50 yards
tracked leaders, driven and lost place over 3f out, weakened 2f out, eased final furlong
Not one favourite has won this in the past eleven years. Tiger Cliff would be a hugely popular winner and was very impressive over 1m6f at Newmarket though whether he stays this far is another matter. Junior won this in 2010 though his last victory was in a 3m chase at Newcastle but Well Sharp appears to have a better chance as he looked a smart staying prospect at York last month. Midnight Oil, from last year's winning stable, has been going well over hurdles in Ireland but it's fellow traveller JUSTIFICATION who gets the vote. Very lightly raced, he would have finished much closer in a strong renewal of the Chester Cup but for being impeded and with the longer trip likely to suit he can take this for Ballydoyle. Lieutenant Miller looks to have been laid out for this by Nicky Henderson, who won it in 2011 with Veiled, while Homeric looks a good ride for Frankie Dettori as his mount looked a genuine staying prospect when tackling 2m here last time.
Blue Bajan (IRE) 13-2 (9-6) Tracked leading trio, pressing leaders and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 1 3/4l behind Montaser (9-7) at York 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Well Sharp 16-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, led over 1f out, forged clear inside final furlong, ran on strongly, won at York 2m hcp 0-90 (3) sft in May beating Moidore (9-9) by 6l, 15 ran.
Softsong (FR) 66-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, one pace and no impression inside final furlong, 8th of 17, 5l behind Address Unknown (9-0) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (4yo+) (2) gf in May.
Investissement 20-1 (8-9) Close 5th on inside, ridden and weakened 2f out, 9th of 17, 11l behind Address Unknown (9-0) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (4yo+) (2) gf in May.
Suraj 20-1 (8-10) Held up last, no headway until stayed on past beaten and eased down horses inside final furlong, 10th of 17, 12l behind Address Unknown (9-0) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (4yo+) (2) gf in May.
Midnight Oil 4-1fav (9-7) Keen in rear, effort on outer when edged right over 1f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 5l behind Caravan Rolls On (8-8) at Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sep '11.
Tiger Cliff (IRE) 5-1 (8-8) Mid-division, headway 3f out, challenged leader entering final furlong, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in May beating De Rigueur (8-4) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Justification 7-2fav (8-8) Held up in mid-division on inside, not clear run and switched right over 3f out, ridden and staying on same pace when edged left over 1f out, no further headway inside final furlong, 7th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Address Unknown (9-0) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (4yo+) (2) gf in May.
Big Easy (GER) (8-9) 98th of 20, 5l behind Le Bosphore (8-2) at Saint-Cloud(FR) 1m 4f stk gd in May '11.
Mubaraza (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) Towards rear, headway 3f out, switched left approaching final furlong, ran on, not reach leaders, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Tiger Cliff (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in May.
Apache (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Held up behind, ridden over 3f out, stayed on from over 1f out, 5th of 14, 9l behind De Rigueur (8-13) at Haydock 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Roman Flight (IRE) 3-1fav (9-5) Prominent, went 2nd over 4f out, led 3f out, soon edged left, headed entering final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Sirvino (8-11) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May.
Mawaqeet (USA) 8-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway on outside under pressure 2f out, soon hung right, plugged on one pace inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 8l behind Sun Central (9-7) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in May.
Homeric (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, led and edged right well over 1f out, driven and strongly pressed throughout final furlong, held on most gamely, won at Ascot 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in May beating Quixote (9-5) by shd, 13 ran.
Marchese Marconi (IRE) 10-11fav (9-12) Led, strongly pressed entering straight and soon headed, driven along and no impression on winner from 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Fleur De Nuit (9-7) at Listowel 1m 6f hcp 60-90 sft.
La Estrella (USA) 10-11fav (10-0) In touch in rear, pushed along halfway, ridden over 4f out, kept on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 3rd of 5, 10l behind Reve De Nuit (9-11) at Southwell 1m 4f clm stks (5) fbs in May.
Mysterious Man (IRE) 2-1fav (9-6) Always prominent, led over 1f out, soon hard pressed, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Swinging Hawk (8-0) at Chester 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May.
Lieutenant Miller 13-8fav (9-6) In touch, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Doncaster 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Apr beating Broxbourne (9-1) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Tantalising (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Held up, 6th halfway, ridden in rear 3f out, under pressure in 6th 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 7, 8l behind Voleuse De Coeurs (9-0) at Navan 1m 6f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) in May.
Junior 4-1 (9-10) Led, driven and headed 5f out, soon ridden, lost place over 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, 9th of 19, 29l behind Veiled (9-3) at Royal Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Jun '11.
