soon led, headed over 2f out, kept on same pace
raced wide in rear, short lived effort on outer over 2f out
led early, in touch, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong
keen tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
keen close up, headway to lead over 2f out, clear entering final furlong, eased towards finish
tracked leader, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out
towards rear, headway over 2f out, not clear run just inside final 2f, soon switched right, ridden to chase clear winner inside final furlong, no threat
NonRunner
NonRunner
This looks quite a competitive finale and Maoi Chinn Tire is a standing dish here. The nine-year-old made a winning reappearance over track and trip in April and may have found the ground too quick on a return visit when behind Hallstatt. Minstrels Gallery has never won on Turf on the Flat, however, and more interesting are other course and distance winners Nam Hai and ATALAN (NAP). Both have been raised5lb but Hughie Morrison's charge is a year younger so may have a bit more scope – he gets the vote.
Minstrels Gallery (IRE) 5-2fav (9-1) Led for 1 1/2f, tracked leader until 8f out, remained in handy 3rd, ridden and stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Stonecutter (9-10) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (4) pol in May.
Maoi Chinn Tire (IRE) 4-1 (9-9) Held up in last pair, steady headway 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, soon no impression, weakened and eased final furlong, 8th of 9, 17 1/4l behind Sweet Selection (9-3) at Nottingham 2m hcp (5) gf in May.
Nam Hai (IRE) 5-2fav (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on well, won at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (5) gd in May beating Hurricane Volta (9-1) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Horseguardsparade 9-2jfav (9-7) Dwelt in touch, ridden 4f out, soon lost place, 8th of 9, dist behind Azilian (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in May.
Topaling 33-1 (8-10) In touch, ridden and weakened 3f out, last of 11, dist behind Bulas Belle (9-4) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Jack Bear 5-1 (9-9) Close up, led over 3f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 13, 4 1/4l behind Cavalieri (9-2) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Sakhra 18-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 8th of 12, 9 1/4l behind Henry Smith (10-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in May.
Hier Encore (FR) 33-1 (8-7) Mid-division, headway on outside 4f out, chased leaders 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out, 7th of 11, 8l behind Stynes (8-8) at Bath 1m 5f hcp (6) gd in May.
Atalan 7-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, led over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on well, won at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (5) gd in May beating Hurry Home Poppa (9-4) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Hallstatt (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, driven and went 2nd over 2f out, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Stormin Tom (9-4) at Ripon 2m hcp (5) gd in Jun.