CHANCELLOR, third in this last year after an unlucky run, made the most of being 13lb lower this time around (his jockey put up 3lb overweight). The key to him is some juice in the ground and connections feel they have discovered how best to ride him now in settling him towardsthe back.
He was taken widest out midtrack in the straight, accompanied by Look Again to cut down Kings Quay, who looked to have made a winning move to take fully two lengths out of the field going to the final furlong.
Chancellor, winner of the Classic Trial before finishing tenth in Galileo's Derby after an attack of colic, had sound Group 2 form in that Classic season and the year after, just touched off in the Prix Dollar twice, so even at the age of eight, he had slipped tremendously in the handicap. In beating Look Again, who has already been assessed 9lb higher, he will be hoisted for this win, but if connections are right and they have the key to him, he could step back up to Listed and lower Group races when conditions are in his favour, so even a return to Longchamp in the autumn would be interesting.
Look Again completed a hat-trick of seconds for the season but did nothing wrong against a classy rival and beat the rest comfortably enough. The trouble is he is 9lb higher now and so his Hunt Cup chances look compromised, although the way he ran here suggests ten furlongs is as far as he wants. His rider reported he was not suited to the track, so there could be a little bare improvement to come but there needs to be. Connections are thinking about the Cambridgeshire but he could easily become this year's nearly horse.
Star Of Light took a keen hold midrace and was then ridden along into the straight to hold his prominent position, but could not maintain it and suffered scrimmaging before rallying strongly in the final furlong. He is probably better on a more galloping track and as such the handicapper may not yet have his measure.
Red Lancer and Impeller ran similar races to the previous year, showing a similar level of form. Red Lancer made a move midrace and kept battling away, but Impeller was one of the finishers from a hopeless position into the last three furlongs. Both have easeda shade from high marks but still look to need further help.
Putra Kuantan travelled as well as anything into the straight perfectly placed on the outside of the front rank, but he edged left from there and did not look happy on the track, with his rider looking after him. He can improve on the bare form back on a flatter track.
Monday's Zetland winner Chantaco was tight for room in the pack early in the straight before edging closer without threatening to land a blow. His style of running suggests he might get further but he has not quite run up to his best here and the 4lb penalty is not an excuse.
Crosspeace had to bustled along midrace and lost his place before running on down the midtrack when the race was all over. The ground was drying out against him but his pattern-race form lands him with huge weights.
Profit's Reality ran better than the bare form as he looked to have more to give in the pack but was continually lent on by the weakening Nightspot before keeping on in the final furlong.
Neither Nero's Return nor Bobby Charles looked happy up the straight and can be forgiven their performances, but All That And More looked to lose his action before the final furlong and was eased, although he was well held by then. (BJ)
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