mid-division, under pressure over 1f out, soon no impression
prominent, led halfway, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on, never on terms
mid-division, under pressure halfway, soon beaten
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, never troubled leaders
in touch, ridden, effort over 1f out, kept on well final furlong
in touch, ridden, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, headway halfway, every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up, never dangerous
held up, headway over 2f out, hard ridden to lead well inside final furlong, all out
led until halfway, weakened over 1f out
in touch, lost place over 2f out
behind, headway over 2f out, stayed on well, never nearer
held up, never dangerous
chased leaders, led over 2f out, hard ridden, headed well inside final furlong, no extra
in touch, lost place over 2f out
tracked leaders, weakened quickly over 2f out
mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon no impression
held up towards rear, headway, not clear run over 1f out, no danger after
The usual suspects take their place in the line-up for this sprint and it's a typically tight knit affair. Triple Aspect is the highest rated horse in the race but he may find experienced campaigners Tamagin and PRIME DEFENDER too strong. We're going to take a chance with the latter given that he should be sent off at a bigger price than the other pair with punters having rather given up with Barry Hills' campaigner who was winning for the first time in two years when successful in May. However, he has done much of his racing at the highest level and has often performed creditably in defeat. Connections tried him in blinkers last time and it saw him finishing strongly to finish fifth, just under 4 lengths off the winner. Tamagin filled second spot in that race and has looked an improved performer of late so has to make any short-list with course and distance form to his name. The lack of that is an issue for fans of Palace Moon but not for those of Jimmy Styles who ended a frustrating run in big handicaps when bagging the Ayr Gold Cup. Golden Desert is another that runs this track particularly well and the gap between the top handicaps and Pattern company isn't insurmountable. Triple Aspect was finishing outside the first two for the first time in his career when fourth at Newbury behind Strike The Deal where he was a little short of room and momentarily outpaced. He looked to need the step back up to six furlongs that day and should be more at home over this trip having become outpaced over five. His defeat by Border Patrol on his last run over this trip looks better than it may have done at the time and he deserves respect but we're going to chance our arm at a price with Prime Defender.
Knot In Wood (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, pushed along over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 10th of 14, 6l behind Sayif (8-12) at Ascot 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Ancien Regime (IRE) 17-2 (9-0) Dwelt, held up mid-division, under pressure halfway, soon eased, last of 10, well behind Palace Moon (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Listed stks (1) gd in Aug.
Brave Prospector 16-1 (9-1) Mid-division stands side group, weakened over 1f out, 25th of 26, 20l behind Jimmy Styles (9-2) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Golden Desert (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no impression, 10th of 28, 3 1/2l behind Advanced (8-12) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Icelandic 6-1 (9-4) Mid-division, 7th halfway, headway in 5th 2f out, ridden into 3rd 1f out, no extra inside final furlong and kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Girouette (9-1) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 in Aug.
Jimmy Styles 14-1 (9-2) Held up far side group, ridden and headway on outer of that group over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep beating Barney McGrew (9-5) by hd, 26 ran.
Markab 7-1fav (9-10) Led far side group, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 16th of 22, 8l behind Santo Padre (9-1) at Doncaster 6f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Palace Moon 13-2 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 12th of 14, 12l behind Sayif (8-12) at Ascot 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Prime Defender 28-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, not pace to threaten, 5th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Sayif (8-12) at Ascot 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Rowe Park 14-1 (9-0) Chased winner over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, 7th of 8, 7l behind Tamagin (9-0) at Goodwood 6f Listed stks (1) gf in Sep.
Royal Rock 5-2fav (9-3) Chased leaders in 4th, ridden into 2nd over 1f out, no extra final furlong and kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 5l behind Snaefell (9-3) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 sft in Sep.
Tamagin (USA) 12-1 (9-0) Raced alone throughout towards far side and looked to be up with leaders, appeared to hold every chance over 1f out until outpaced by winner inside final furlong, kept on gamely to hold 2nd, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Sayif (8-12) at Ascot 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Awinnersgame (IRE) 6-5fav (8-7) Tracked leading pair, switched left between horses to challenge 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Yarmouth 6f cond Stakes (3) gf in Sep beating Global City (8-7) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Bonnie Charlie 7-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, unable to quicken well inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 1l behind Rulesn'regulations (8-6) at Ascot 6f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sep.
Enderby Spirit (GR) 8-1 (9-7) Prominent, raced keenly, lost place when hampered well over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 8th of 16, 5l behind Bounty Box (8-2) at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Aug.
Triple Aspect (IRE) 5-4fav (8-13) Held up behind leaders, not much room and bumped over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Strike The Deal (9-0) at Newbury 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in Sep.
Waffle (IRE) 9-4 (8-12) Held up, ridden along and headway 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Noble Storm (8-12) at Beverley 5f con stks (3) gf in May.
Festoso (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Bumped slightly start, in rear, pushed along 3f out, stayed on from over 1f out to go 3rd inside final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Ashram (8-13) at Newbury 7f Listed stks (1) gf in Sep.
Mullein 33-1 (8-11) Held up last, ran on strongly inside final furlong, finished well and almost snatched 2nd, no chance with winner, 3rd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Sayif (8-12) at Ascot 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Golden Stream (IRE) 5-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, switched right and headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Ascot 7f fll lst stks (1) gf in Sep beating Red Dune (8-13) by 1l, 12 ran.
