tracked winner, outpaced 4f out, soon ridden, lost place over 2f out, beaten and eased over 1f out
made all, driven clear approaching final furlong, eased near finish, comfortably
held up, effort over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, hung right and no impression from over 1f out
held up in 3rd, headway 3f out, ridden to chase winner over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, kept on same pace, no imrpession
A small field but with the majority of the runners proven over the trip, the feeling is that there should be a strong gallop on here. With a proven tactical versatility, it is KINGS DESTINY who gets the vote. A winner at Leicester in April, the selection has run two good races in defeat since, including behind Quai D'Orsay last time at Musselburgh, a race that has worked out well. He subsequently has a 4lb higher mark to race from today but he is progressing well and should give a bold account of himself. Fortuni is progressing well and it is often a bad idea to oppose one from the stable who is chasing a hat-trick but the handicapper has taken no chances and off a stone higher in this better race he can be taken on. Matraash also chases the treble but he got an uncontested lead last time and it will be a different story today and again he has a rise in the weights to contend with. He is chosen by Richard Hills in preference to Zaaqya who showed a battling attitude last time at Newbury but this looks tougher, whilst the same applies to Lady Artemisia who has to race off a mark of 82 today which is 5lb higher than originally scheduled prior to a Newbury win last time. Stanstill is consistent and comes here in good form, but he got a better run through at Chester last time than the runner-up (who has won since) and he needs to find some more improvement. Probably one of the best races of the day but a tough puzzle to solve; the answer may lie with King's Destiny.
Fortuni (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) With leader, led 4f out, quickened well clear 2 out, heavily eased, won at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in May beating Sehoy (9-7) by 4l, 9 ran.
Kings Destiny 2-1fav (9-7) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 1f out, staying on when much room inside final furlong, soon switched left, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Quai D'orsay (9-7) at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-90 (2) gd in Jun.
Zaaqya 10-3 (9-3) Tracked leader until 4f out, stayed prominent, not much room when switched right and squeezed through 2f out, soon driven and challenging, stayed on throughout final furlong to lead final stride, won at Newbury 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf beating Ithbaat (9-7) by shd, 7 ran.
Lady Artemisia (IRE) 5-2 (8-12) Tracked leader, led narrowly over 2f out, driven over 1f out, ran on strongly and drew clear final furlong, won at Newbury 1m 4f fll mdn stks (4) gf in Jun beating Ramora (8-12) by 3l, 6 ran.
Matraash (USA) 4-5fav (9-7) Made all, set steady pace, quickened 4f out, ridden approaching final furlong, unchallenged, won at Leicester 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun beating Cosimo (8-8) by 5l, 4 ran.
Stanstill (IRE) 7-2 (9-7) Held up in touch, ridden to lead 1f out, just held on, won at Chester 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun beating Act Of Kalanisi (9-9) by ns, 6 ran.
