led, pushed along and headed over 1f out, edged left and weakened inside final furlong
held up, pushed along over 1f out, never nearer
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, soon every chance, no extra close home
took keen hold, in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, slightly hampered close home
held up, ridden over 1f out, never on terms
in rear, pushed along and headway approaching final furlong, kept on same pace final furlong
tracked leader, pushed along to lead over 1f out, ridden and ran on, edged left towards finish
very slowly away, recovered to rear after 1f, pushed along and headway approaching final furlong, nearest finish
tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong
New Kingdom won over a longer trip at Meydan in February and is preferred to Spirit Of Light, who also raced at Meydan before finishing runner-up at Musselburgh recently. Tacarib Bay placed at last year’s Craven meeting and won on soft going subsequently but VAFORTINO will be sharper for last month’s reappearance at Kempton and last season’s Victoria Cup winner at Ascot may well prove the one to side with in this. Juan Les Pins was last seen finishing third in the Ayr Gold Cup and is preferred to Rebel Territory of the rest.
New Kingdom (9-6) won at Meydan 1m hcp gd in Feb beating Aegean Finale (9-7) by nk, 13 ran.
Tacarib Bay 5-2 (9-2) Tracked leader, ridden to lead entering final 2f, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace and lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 6 1/4l behind Astral Beau (8-11) at Doncaster 1m lst stks (1) hvy in Apr.
Vafortino (IRE) 11-2 (9-9) Tracked winner, pushed along over 2f out, no chance with winner when lost 2nd inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Mount Athos (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Spirit Of Light (IRE) 17-2 (9-9) In touch, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Gweedore (8-13) at Musselburgh 7f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Al Rufaa (FR) 14-1 (9-9) Keen in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 12, 4 3/4l behind Wanees (9-2) at Haydock 1m hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Juan Les Pins 28-1 (8-9) Raced near side, held up, headway when switched sharply left and badly hampered rival inside final 2f, ran on under pressure inside final furlong, going on close home, not reach leaders, 3rd of 24, 1 1/2l behind Summerghand (9-5) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Rebel Territory 6-1 (10-0) Keen close up, ridden and every chance over 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 5 3/4l behind Ghaly (9-13) at Newmarket 1m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Final Watch 7-1 (10-0) Keen held up, pushed along over 2f out, never on terms, 8th of 9, 13 1/2l behind Zip (9-2) at Doncaster 7f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Hodler (GER) 17-2 (9-9) Raced keenly, held up in last trio, never involved, 7th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Arctician (8-10) at Lingfield 7f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
