made all, kept on well, ridden out
always outpaced in rear
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, headway 2f out, soon ridden and hung right, kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders to 3f, soon weakened, eased final furlong
slowly into stride and squeezed out start, always towards rear
always towards rear
mid-division, switched left over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, chased winner entering final furlong, kept on, always held
held up, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
Captain Gerrard can come out on top over Spirit Of Sharjah, Cute Ass and Hitchens to name but a few. With underfoot conditions to suit, Captain Gerrard can be strongly fancied to gain revenge over Spirit Of Sharjah who finished second to the selection's fourth in the Flying Childers at Doncaster. Since then, Bryan Smart's prolific juvenile has bounced back to form in the Harry Roseberry Stakes at Ayr, gaining another Listed victory. This Group 3 would be a big feather in his cap, and he should prove up to the task. Cute Ass has been a model of consistency, but needs to step up a gear to score, while Cake is held on York form. Hitchens ran a big race at The Curragh last time, but this represents a big step down in trip, and it is hard to enthuse about the rest, so we return to Captain Gerrard as the likely winner.
Captain Gerrard (IRE) 5-6fav (9-6) Switched start, led over 3f out, ridden clear over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Ayr 5f 2yo lst stk (1) sft in Sept beating Look Busy (8-12) by 2l, 9 ran.
Carleton 11-1 (9-4) Bumped start, held up, effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong, last of 6, 5l behind Major Eazy (9-1) at Salisbury 6f 2yo stk (2) gs.
Hammadi (IRE) 5-6fav (9-3) Made all, pushed clear over 1f out, easily, won at Catterick 6f 2yo mdn (5) gd in Sept beating Tawzeea (9-3) by 10l, 7 ran.
Hitchens (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway on outer 2f out, 2nd and challenged 1f out, no further impression but kept on under pressure, 2nd of 19, 2 1/2l behind Luck Money (9-0) at Curragh 7f 2yo stk gf in Sept.
Lindoro 20-1 (9-2) Towards rear, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 15th of 23, 10l behind Dubai Dynamo (9-2) at Redcar 6f 2yo lst stk (1) gd.
Spirit of Sharjah (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Fleeting Spirit (8-11) at Doncaster 5f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Sept.
Thunder Bay 5-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 5th of 8, 3l behind Mesmerize Me (8-13) at Windsor 5f 2yo hcp 0-95 (4) gd.
Cake (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 1f out, last of 8, 6l behind Fleeting Spirit (8-11) at Doncaster 5f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Sept.
Cute Ass (IRE) 28-1 (8-11) Soon chasing leaders, ridden halfway, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Fleeting Spirit (8-11) at Doncaster 5f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Sept.
Dubai Princess (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Pulled hard in touch, switched right and effort over 1f out, soon no impression, 10th of 14, 7l behind Natagora (8-12) at Newmarket 6f 2yo fll Grp 1 (1) gd.
Littlemisssunshine (IRE) 6-1 (8-12) Chased leaders stands side, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 8l behind Cake (8-12) at Newbury 5f 2yo lst fll (1) gd in Aug.
Reel Gift 9-2 (8-8) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 22, 8l behind Lady Rangali (8-2) at Ascot 6f 2yo flls auc (2) gd in Sept.
Your Pleasure (USA) 9-1 (8-12) Made all, edged left final furlong, ridden out, won at Bath 6f 2yo mdn (5) gs beating Prime Aspiration (9-3) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
