slowly into stride, behind and pushed along, soon in touch on outer, chased leaders halfway, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear and keen, headway on inside 3f out, switched right and ridden over 1f out, kept on to chase winner towards finish, always held
prominent, ridden 2f out, faded 1f out
held up towards rear, pushed along and not much room over 4f out, never dangerous
behind, pushed along over 4f out, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong
held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, hung left 1f out, no impression
mid-division, pushed along and weakened over 3f out
in touch and keen, headway on inside and not much room over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on
mid-division, headway on inside over 3f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on and lost 2nd towards finish
made all, ridden over 2f out, soon clear, ridden out
in rear, weakened over 4f out
held up mid-division, ridden and not much room over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened and hampered
held up mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, no impression
tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, chased winner over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, soon switched right, kept on and never able to challenge
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, one pace
Off his feather-weight the improving stayer DEAUVILLE FLYER can take home 'the Plate' although stern challenges lurk around every corner in the form of the hurdlers Overturn and Mamlook, whilst Halla San and Bernie The Bolt also rate as dangers. Juniper Girl was the last favourite to win this race in 2007 and market leaders generally have a poor record, however this progressive gelding deserves his place at the head of the betting. Trying two miles for the first time in a while at York earlier in the month he demolished a decent field and with his 5lb winners' penalty he sneaks into this race and will take some beating. La Vecchia Scuola's forceful Chester ride last time nearly paid off, however the best Roodee form comes from Mamlook who won the Chester Cup in May but the loss of Richard Hughes in the saddle is a blow and it must be said that the race panned out perfectly on that occasion. Aaim To Prosper's third to Junior at Ascot was a fine effort in a race where horses struggled to come from behind and as the first reserve he has just snuck into the line-up, Spirit Is Needed shapes like a stayer and is perhaps the pick of the Mark Johnston duo, whilst former inmate Sabotage drops in grade but may have a hard task under his burden of top-weight. Drunken Sailor looks adaptable and as if he may relish this test, recent Newmarket winner Chiberta King and potential improver Bernie The Bolt give Andew Balding a strong hand, whilst Halla San (2nd in 2008) is a course winner and got to within a length of Mamlook at Chester with Desert Sea back in sixth. Overturn was one of the most progressive hurdlers in 2010 and signed off in May with a fine second to Eradicate in the Swinton Hurdle and a mark of 93 looks feasible for this relentless galloper, whilst Rajik (8th in the Ascot Stakes) and Zaralabad represent trainer Charlie Swan who will be hoping to take the prize back to Ireland as Tony Martin did with Arc Bleu in 2008. Stanstill and Merchant Of Dubai are progressive and Alan Swinbank will have had this race as the plan for some time. A wonderfully intricate renewal in which Deauville Flyer can take top honours.
Sabotage (UAE) 13-2 (9-0) Tracked leading trio, went 3rd 4f out, weakened over 2f out, eased inside final furlong, last of 9, 18l behind Akmal (9-0) at Sandown 2m Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
Drunken Sailor (IRE) 15-2 (8-12) Held up in rear, pushed along over 2f out, headway when hung right over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, never nearer, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Class Is Class (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 2f Listed stks (1) gd in May.
Chiberta King 11-4fav (9-8) Made all, ridden over 2f out, clear entering final furlong, ran on well, comfortably, won at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in May beating Gala Evening (9-10) by 2l, 11 ran.
Mamlook (IRE) 7-1fav (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, challenged over 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on under pressure, just held on, won at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in May beating Tastahil (9-10) by hd, 17 ran.
Halla San 9-1 (8-13) In touch, ridden and effort on outside over 2f out, stayed on and chance final furlong, held towards finish, 3rd of 17, 1l behind Mamlook (8-12) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in May.
Macarthur 28-1 (9-3) Towards rear, ridden 3f out, soon struggling, no chance final 2f, 11th of 17, 8l behind Cill Rialaig (8-11) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Bernie The Bolt (IRE) 9-1 (8-7) Towards rear, headway into mid-division over 4f out, soon ridden, no further progress, 13th of 17, 16l behind Mamlook (8-12) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in May.
Becausewecan (USA) 40-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 14th of 17, 12l behind Cill Rialaig (8-11) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Stanstill (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Led, bagged stands side rail in straight, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 4l behind Dayia (8-10) at Haydock 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gs in May.
Desert Sea (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Mid-division on inside, headway over 2f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong, no impression, 6th of 17, 4l behind Mamlook (8-12) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in May.
Overturn (IRE) 17-2 (9-12) Soon led, ridden and under pressure final furlong, kept on gamely, won at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct beating Omokoroa (8-2) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Rajik (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) In rear, kept on from 2f out, never near leaders, 8th of 20, 9l behind Junior (9-0) at Royal Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gd.
Zaralabad (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace from 1 1/2f out, 5th of 8, 8l behind False Economy (10-9) at Listowel 1m 6f stks gf.
Royal Diamond (IRE) 15-2 (9-10) Raced in rear, headway over 3f out, weakening when short of room over 2f out, 8th of 11, 17l behind Chiberta King (9-8) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in May.
Crackentorp 13-2fav (10-4) Held up in touch, chased leaders over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 18, 7l behind Desert Recluse (8-3) at York 1m 4f ladys hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Spirit Is Needed (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 3f out, gradually weakened, 15th of 18, 26l behind Desert Recluse (8-3) at York 1m 4f ladys hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
La Vecchia Scuola (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Led, ridden 2f out, 2 lengths clear over 1f out, caught final strides, 2nd of 8, nk behind Dazzling Light (8-13) at Chester 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in May.
Deauville Flyer 6-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, led well over 1f out, pushed clear inside final furlong, eased towards finish, won at York 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gd beating The Last Alzao (8-13) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Aaim To Prosper (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) In touch, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase winner over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 20, 6l behind Junior (9-0) at Royal Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gd.
Merchant Of Dubai 15-8 (9-2) Chased leader in close 2nd, ridden along entering straight, strongly pressed winner 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Roses For The Lady (8-12) at Navan 1m 5f Listed stks gf in Apr.
Cosmic Sun 9-2 (9-4) Held up in rear, driven and headway over 3f out, soon no impression, 7th of 8, 10l behind Dirar (9-7) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
