held up in rear, soon bustled along, good headway on outside 2f out, edged right and led 1f out, ran on well
held up in touch, ridden to challenge well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led early, soon tracking leaders, not clear run and switched right over 2f out, soon ridden, every chance entering final furlong, edged left under pressure and kept on same pace
slowly into stride, held up in touch, chased leaders 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
led after 1f, headed 3f out, soon under pressure and weakened
slowly away, soon prominent, led 3f out, headed over 1f out, soon one pace
KAATEB sets the standard here and gets the vote ahead of Humungous and Rayhani. The selection is a thoroughly consistent gelding trained by Willie Haggas, who is enjoying a fabulous 2008 campaign. Trip and ground are at his optimum, and he does not look to have stopped improving so we'll side with him. Rayhani has kept some good company under the tutelage of Marcus Tregoning and is another with a very solid profile. He stays further than this, so the stiff Ascot circuit over 10f will suit, and he is a force to be reckoned with. Humungous has appreciated this trip on his two most recent runs and can take home some money if he gives his best running, though that is a bit doubtful when you consider his record here. Ballentini might be a better proposition than Charlie Egerton's runner, while Midships gets the age allowance and if he can reproduce his Newbury running from May then he may well be the one to give the selection most to do. A tough race then and Kaateb's consistency can see him emerge victorious.
Humungous (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Steadied start, in rear, headway 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 16, 4l behind Hunting Country (8-4) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Ballinteni 11-2 (9-4) Tracked winner, weakened 2f out, 4th of 6, 6l behind Dunelight (9-4) at Windsor 1m lst stk (1) gf in Jun.
Kaateb (IRE) 4-1fav (9-4) Made all, quickened 3f out, clear over 1f out, ridden out, comfortably, won at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gf beating Gulf Express (9-13) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Rayhani (USA) 11-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and hung left over 1f out, unable to quicken final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Moon Quest (8-13) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Jun.
Free Tussy (ARG) 40-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 27l behind Moon Quest (8-13) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Jun.
Midships (USA) 13-2 (9-3) Chased leader to over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f, 6th of 12, 15l behind Conduit (8-6) at Epsom 1m 2f 3yo fll hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Jun.
Silver Blue (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, headway, effort over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened from 2f out, 8th of 9, 16l behind Sam Lord (9-7) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft.
