led on near side rail, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leader until over 2f out, weakened quickly
held up and always towards rear
tracked leaders, switched left 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
wore ear plugs, slowly into stride, held up, never on terms
held up in last pair, good headway outside of group over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, strongly pressed and edged left inside final furlong, ran on
steadied start, held up in last pair, good headway on outside of group over 2f out, went 2nd approaching final furlong, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
wore hood to post, held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, squeezed through over 1f out, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong
chased leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
Dual novice winner AL SALT drops back down to his winning trip having placed over 1m2f in a handicap at Goodwood. The Haggas colt should go close again in a tight contest and is preferred to stablemate Nicklaus. Grove Ferry is also unexposed and could figure after a decent effort at Sandown while Marronnier wasn’t beaten far despite finishing only seventh at the same Sandown fixture. Tulfarris makes a belated reappearance having finished runner-up in last year’s renewal but Queen Gamrah and Plantadream have proved best on the all-weather so far.
Brains (IRE) 66-1 (9-7) Prominent far side, 2nd in group 4f out until over 2f out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 20th of 22, 21 3/4l behind Sir Busker (9-10) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Divine Messenger 50-1 (9-8) Dwelt always towards rear, 9th of 11, 11 3/4l behind Red October (9-11) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Aug.
Eagle Creek (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders in 5th, pushed along inside final 3f, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 6 3/4l behind Sir Titan (9-3) at Goodwood 7f hcp (3) gf in Jun.
Marronnier (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Awkward and unseated rider on walkway, slowly away, well behind, headway over 1f out, staying on when hampered inside final furlong, not recover, 7th of 15, 1 3/4l behind Dean Street Doll (9-8) at Sandown 1m hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Nicklaus 13-2 (9-10) Pulled hard tracking leaders on inside, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, plugged on towards finish, 5th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Dubai Mirage (9-1) at Haydock 1m hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Plantadream 18-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, 12th of 13, 10 3/4l behind Sky Defender (9-5) at Epsom 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Tulfarris 4-1 (9-0) Switched left to track winner 5f out, ridden to challenge from over 1f out, every chance until unable to quicken close home, 2nd of 10, hd behind Sawwaah (9-3) at Ascot 1m stks (3) sft in Oct.
Al Salt (IRE) 13-2 (8-8) Wore hood to post, held up in mid-division and keen, smooth headway tracking leaders over 2f out, every chance 1f out, stayed on same pace in 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Junkanoo (8-0) at Goodwood 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Grove Ferry (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 5th of 13, 2l behind First Winter (9-2) at Sandown 1m hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Queen Gamrah 7-1 (9-9) Held up in last pair, ridden on outside over 1f out, plugged on in 4th final furlong, never on terms, 4th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Desert Peace (9-7) at Kempton 1m hcp (4) pol in Jun.
