led, hard driven over 2f out, headed over 1f out, faded final furlong
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon hampered, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, steady headway from 6f out, stayed on final furlong, never dangerous
mid-division, driven and headway over 4f out, beaten when hampered over 1f out
in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on well
held up towards rear, switched right and headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never reached winner
in touch, effort over 1f out, soon weakened
pulled hard in mid-division, weakened over 3f out
mid-division, headway over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, soon eased
tracked leader, driven to challenge over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, eased over 1f out
in touch, hung right under pressure over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly away, always behind
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, ran on closing stages, nearest finish
mid-division, headway over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, stayed on well, never on terms
started very slowly, behind, headway over 2f out, ran on, never on terms
chased leaders, under pressure over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
in touch, weakened well over 2f out
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway when hampered over 2f out, never dangerous
A hugely competitive handicap in which it's impossible to rule out many of the 19-strong line-up. Gospel Choir beat subsequent winner Sun Central over C&D on his handicap in July and went on to complete his hat-trick at Haydock when bettering Stencive by half-a-length. But Sir Michael Stoute complicates matters by also running Opinion, successful over 1m2f at Haydock four weeks ago, and Martin Chuzzlewit. The latter was only beaten half-a-length by Kirthill at York last month but the draw doesn't appear to have done him any favours here. Mark Johnston is another trainer who is mob-handed and Hajras and Scatter Dice have both had a good season while Fennell Bay won the King George V Stakes over C&D in June. MODERNISM may well have scope for further improvement having returned to winning ways over this trip at Goodwood last month, however, and he gets a tentative vote even though Blue Surf, Angel Gabrial, Ruscello, Caphira and Castilo Del Diablo are others arriving on the back of recent wins. Ahzeemah, Silver Lime and Harvard N Yale also have solid claims if getting the run of the race.
Miblish 12-1 (9-0) In touch, effort to chase leaders over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 6th of 16, 6l behind Labarinto (9-1) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (2) gf.
Gospel Choir 5-2fav (9-1) Tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, led over 2f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) gf in Aug beating Stencive (8-13) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Hajras (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 2f out, edged left under pressure and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 16, 4l behind Danadana (10-0) at York 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Aug.
Opinion (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden to challenge 3f out, led 1f out, kept on well, won at Haydock 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Aug beating Fork Handles (9-4) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Ahzeemah (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway on outside 2f out, stayed on to chase winner final 110 yards, held towards finsh, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Sun Central (9-2) at Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Aug.
Stencive 8-1 (8-13) Took keen hold, mid-division, headway over 3f out, switched right well over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, held close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Gospel Choir (9-1) at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Scatter Dice (IRE) 2-1fav (8-12) Tracked leader, pushed along 4f out, lost place over 2f out, eased over 1f out, last of 6, 36l behind Communicator (8-13) at Chester 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gd in Aug.
Stature (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Short of room on rails after 1f, prominent, led approaching halfway, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, chased leaders until weakened over 1f out, eased final furlong, 15th of 16, 18l behind Sir Graham Wade (8-8) at Goodwood 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
Blue Surf 7-2 (8-13) In touch in mid-division, improved going well behind leaders from over 2f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at Goodwood 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Aug beating Trader Jack (9-1) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Sun Central (IRE) 2-1fav (9-2) Mid-division, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, kept on, won at Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Aug beating Ahzeemah (9-9) by 1l, 10 ran.
Fennell Bay (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, always behind, last of 19, 38l behind Kirthill (10-0) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Aug.
Martin Chuzzlewit (IRE) 10-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, challenged over 3f out, led 2f out, soon edged left, headed just over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 19, 1/2l behind Kirthill (10-0) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Aug.
Silver Lime (USA) 11-2 (8-11) Mid-division, switched right over 3f out, headway and edged left 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 9th of 19, 8l behind Kirthill (10-0) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Aug.
Harvard N Yale (USA) 5-1 (9-1) Led early, prominent, ridden and every chance 2f out, no extra final 100 yards, 4th of 7, 5l behind Blue Surf (8-13) at Goodwood 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Aug.
Angel Gabrial (IRE) 3-1 (8-11) Held up in touch, headway entering final 2f, led inside final furlong, soon edged right, ridden and ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug beating Suegioo (8-9) by nk, 6 ran.
Ruscello (IRE) 5-2 (9-2) Pulled hard early until steadied to rear, came wide into straight over 4f out, headway over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Yarmouth 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Aug beating Three Bards (8-13) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Modernism 6-4fav (9-4) Made all, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, forged clear final furlong, eased near finish, won at Goodwood 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Aug beating Hidden Justice (9-0) by 4l, 6 ran.
Caphira 9-4fav (8-12) Tracked leader, challenged 2f out, ridden to slight lead entering final furlong, stayed on well in closing stages, driven out, won at Kempton 1m 4f Fillies Maiden Auction Stakes (3-5yo) (6) pol in Aug beating Altaria (8-12) by nk, 8 ran.
Castilo Del Diablo (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Took ken hold, held up and behind, headway over 3f out, led and hung left 2f out, hung right and ridden over 1f out, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Newmarket 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gf in Aug beating Enthusiastic (9-7) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
