held up in rear, headway on outside under pressure over 1f out, stayed on to lead final 50 yards
held up in mid-division, headway and switched left to outside over 2f out, chased leaders and every chance under pressure over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
difficult loading, steadied start, held up towards rear, headway on inside going well over 2f out, ridden to challenge and every chance inside final furlong, not pace of winner towards finish, went 2nd last strides
raced keenly, tracked leader when went clear over 7f out, closer over 2f out, led inside final 2f, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and unable to quicken inside final 2f, weakened entering final furlong
held up in last pair and pushed along at times, headway over 1f out, squeezed through and kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
tracked leaders on outside, ridden and weakened over 1f out
led, went clear over 7f out, came back to the field over 2f out, ridden and headed inside final 2f, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway and switched left to outside over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed final 50 yards, lost 2nd final strides
Laafy returns to 1m4f but is 12lb higher than when making a winning reappearance at Newbury and a couple of these are more progressive including Labeebb. The latter made a winning handicap debut at Windsor, though is 9lb higher today and is upped in class so LOOK CLOSELY makes more appeal. Roger Varian’s charge bids for a hat-trick of course and distance victories having defied a hike in the weights in this grade last time and there looks more to come from him. Stablemate Emirates Knight looks on a high enough mark returning to Turf while Newmarket winner Natty Night is another facing a more difficult task at this level but On To Victory will be sharper for last month’s third at York and could go well.
Laafy (USA) 9-4fav (9-7) Chased leaders, beaten and hanging right 2f out, well held final furlong, 6th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Hochfeld (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Look Closely 7-2 (9-3) Soon tracking leader from wide draw, challenged 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, all out, won at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Aug beating Hyanna (9-4) by hd, 12 ran.
On To Victory 18-1 (9-7) In touch, pushed along and headway over 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Alfaatik (9-3) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Dash Of Spice 40-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 21, 9 1/2l behind Fujaira Prince (9-8) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Ernesto (GER) 66-1 (9-7) Chased leaders early, mid-division, ridden over 3f out, well beaten from over 2f out, 9th of 10, 19 1/4l behind Island Brave (9-2) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Entangling (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) Behind early, headway 4f out, ridden 3f out, chased winner 2f out until inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 7, 17 1/2l behind Believe In Love (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp (2) sft in Aug.
Emirates Knight (IRE) 3-1fav (10-3) Led 1f, tracked leaders, ridden to lead again over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 14, 2 3/4l behind Omnivega (9-12) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Jul.
Natty Night 7-2 (9-2) Taken to post early, led, pushed along and headed 3f out, tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, rallied to lead again close home, gamely, won at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (3) gf in Aug beating Zuba (9-4) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Labeebb (IRE) 9-4fav (9-0) Dwelt, soon recovered to lead for 2f, tracked leader who went clear 5f out, closer going well over 2f out, pushed along to lead over 1f out, soon clear, easily, won at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (4) gf in Aug beating Grinling (8-11) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
