tracked leader, pushed along over 3f out, staying on when hampered over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up in touch, effort over 2f out, soon one pace
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon no impression
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, just failed
held up in touch, every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
always behind
behind, headway over 5f out, chased leaders over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
led, hung left and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, ran on to lead over 1f out, edged right under pressure, just held on
slowly into stride, behind, headway over 1f out, no extra final furlong
MUTAMAASHI, Cill Rialaig and Dangerous Midge are the three that make most appeal in a handicap where a number of the field have questions to answer. The majority are capable performers but holes can be picked in the recent efforts of Ezdiyaad, Checklow, Espiritu and Stevie Thunder to name but four and, whilst it's not inconceivable that they could win, it make sense to side with a horse in form. Mountain Pride has run well here in the past and enters calculations but doesn't look obviously well treated whilst Wintercast is going up in the weights in defeat although his form reads well enough. Dangerous Midge came with a good late run to land a classified stakes at Doncaster and is open to plenty of improvement after just four starts but he has to race from a 9lb higher mark from a bad draw. Cill Rialaig is a tough campaigner who lost nothing in defeat when two heads behind Class Is Class in midfield in a more competitive race than this at Newbury. She won't go down without a fight and has her regular pilot back in the plate but may need a strong pace to be seen at her best. Mutamaashi looked an unlucky loser at Lingfield on his penultimate start when Richard Hills gave him plenty to do but O'Shea made no mistake when the pair combined to take a valuable prize at Chester. Only five went to post for that race and the margin of success was only narrow but he was good value for it and has escaped with just a 3lb rise. He'll need things to go his way in a field of this size but he hasn't got many miles on the clock and looks capable of making further progress so Mutamaashi is selected in the hope that the cards fall right.
Ezdiyaad (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Raced centre, led that group until merged with stands side 3f out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, 10th of 15, 7l behind Confront (9-10) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gf in May.
Wintercast 9-4fav (9-5) In touch, ridden to challenge winner over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Alazeyab (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Jun.
Checklow (USA) 12-1 (9-11) Mid-division, effort over 2f out, ridden and weakened 1f out, 14th of 20, 14l behind Kavachi (9-2) at York 1m 1f hcp 105 (2) gd in Jun.
Espiritu (FR) 12-1 (9-6) In touch, effort and pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 6l behind Elna Bright (8-6) at Ascot 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Sep.
Mountain Pride (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Held up in last trio, smooth headway going well towards inside over 2f out, chased leading pair 2f out, stayed on to challenge and joined winner 1f out, every chance until no extra and held final 100 yards, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Bencoolen (9-5) at Goodwood 1m 1f app hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Aug.
Doubnov (FR) 66-1 (9-2) Slowly away, always behind, last of 10, 23l behind Heliodor (8-10) at Kempton 1m 2f stks (3yo+) (3) pol in Sep.
Mutamaashi 2-1fav (8-12) Held up in rear but in touch, headway over 1f out, rider soon lost whip, ran on to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at Chester 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Sep beating Goliaths Boy (8-3) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Kavachi (IRE) 22-1 (9-1) Switched left start, took keen hold, held up in rear, 19th of 20, 29l behind Almiqdaad (8-12) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep.
Stevie Thunder 33-1 (8-1) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 6th of 32, 4l behind Supaseus (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf.
Bucked Off (SAF) 20-1 (8-13) Took keen hold, led and soon clear, reduced lead 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, carried head high under pressure and no extra towards finish, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Elna Bright (8-6) at Ascot 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Sep.
Cill Rialaig 12-1 (8-11) Held up in mid-division, headway on outside 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, no extra final 1f, 6th of 20, 3 1/2l behind Almiqdaad (8-12) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep.
Tartan Gunna 12-1 (8-12) Always prominent, ridden and stayed on same pace from over 1f out, 5th of 10, 1 3/4l behind Elna Bright (8-6) at Ascot 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Sep.
Beauchamp Xerxes 13-2 (8-10) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out on outer, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Heliodor (8-10) at Kempton 1m 2f stks (3yo+) (3) pol in Sep.
Waldvogel (IRE) 16-1 (9-8) Held up in last pair, headway on inside over 2f out, switched right to challenge on inside over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 7l behind Record Breaker (9-6) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep.
Dangerous Midge (USA) 14-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, headway on outside from 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, driven clear, won at Doncaster 1m 2f stks 0-85 (3) gf in Sep beating Lady Artemisia (8-8) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
