steadied start, held up in rear, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to get involved
took keen hold tracking leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
held up in mid-division far side, headway 2f out, chasing leaders when not clear run and switched right over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd final 100 yards, no impression on winner
held up towards rear of mid-division, ridden and no impression over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, never involved
held up mid-division far side, pushed along and lost place over 2f out, no chance after, behind and eased inside final furlong
led near side group and prominent overall, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear far side, headway over 1f out, run flattened out inside final furlong
tracked winner far side, ridden and lost 2nd inside final 2f, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and went 2nd inside final 2f, no chance with winner, dropped to 3rd final 100 yards
held up towards rear, headway near side over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong into never nearer 5th towards finish
tracked leaders far side, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened inside final 2f
tracked leaders near side, pushed along over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened inside final 2f
took keen hold, in touch far side, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
held up mid-division far side, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden well over 1f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear near side, headway when not clearest of runs over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 4th 100 yards out, never going pace to reach leading trio
raced near side, held up and behind, some headway when pushed left approaching final furlong, no impression final furlong
took keen hold, held up in mid-division near side, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden and edged right over 1f out, weakened and lost two places last 100 yards
raced far side, raced keenly, made all, ridden 2 lengths clear over 1f out, kept on strongly, driven out
Chil The Kite carries 3lb more than when sixth to Bronze Angel in this last year but is probably well drawn with low to middle numbers likely to have an advantage over those drawn high on the prevailing ground. Gabriel's Lad is one of those who will do well to score from a starting berth near the stands rail and Spark Plug's luck remains out as he's been allotted stall 22. Empire Storm was third last year under Mikey Ennis and filled the same position behind Buckstay and Gabriel's Lad over 7f here at the start of the month so goes on the short-list, though may also have to tack over to find the best ground. Sacrificial was third in a Listed race at Killarney in August when taking on older horses for the first time but this looks a big ask given he only has a 3lb weight-for-age allowance at this stage of the season. The vote goes to GM HOPKINS who is still 6lb higher than when winning the Royal Hunt Cup over track and trip in June but can again beat third and fourth Chil The Kite and Balty Boys, who aren't much better off, and Bronze Angel, Fort Bastion and Ayaar, though the latter is starting to come down the weights again and is reunited with Frankie here.
Chil The Kite 8-1 (9-0) In rear, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on, 4th of 7, 3 1/4l behind Scottish (8-8) at Ayr 1m 2f lst (1) gd in Sep.
Balty Boys (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Tracked leader until pushed along over 2f out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Tryster (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m 1f stks (2) pol in Sep.
Gm Hopkins 14-1 (9-9) Held up behind far side, headway 2f out, driven and kept on to chase leaders inside final furlong, no impression, 6th of 34, 3 1/4l behind Third Time Lucky (8-4) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Bronze Angel (IRE) 11-1 (9-8) Mid-division far side, outpaced over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 21st of 34, 15 1/4l behind Third Time Lucky (8-4) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Gabriel's Lad (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, good headway on far side 2f out, led entering final furlong and ran on, caught final stride, 2nd of 17, shd behind Buckstay (9-1) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Belgian Bill 16-1 (9-10) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 12th of 13, 14 1/2l behind Bronze Angel (9-7) at Doncaster 1m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Empire Storm (GER) 33-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance in 2nd over 1f out, edged right and lost 2nd inside final furlong, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Buckstay (9-1) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Buckstay (IRE) 9-2fav (9-1) Held up and behind, headway on bit 2f out, weaved way through over 1f out, edged right and went 2nd inside final furlong, ran on to lead last strides, fine ride, won at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Gabriel's Lad (9-4) by shd, 17 ran.
Rene Mathis (GER) 14-1 (9-6) In touch, pushed along inside final 3f, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 13th of 17, 11 1/2l behind Buckstay (9-1) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Master The World (IRE) 4-1fav (9-3) Held up tracking leaders in centre, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Energia Davos (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Spark Plug (IRE) 9-2 (9-10) Held up, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden and weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Energia Davos (9-4) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Sacrificial (IRE) 11-4fav (9-3) Towards rear, 7th halfway, pushed along over 2f out, ridden in 5th 1f out and went 3rd under pressure 150 yards out, kept on, not reach principals, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Algonquin (9-3) at Killarney 1m lst stks (1) gd in Aug.
Farlow (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Held up and behind, headway near side over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 8th of 17, 5 1/4l behind Buckstay (9-1) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Merry Me (IRE) (8-11) 2nd of 9, 5l behind Vadamos (9-2) at Baden-Baden 1m Grp 2 (1) in Sep.
Ayaar (IRE) 5-1fav (9-4) Slowly away, in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 6th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Bronze Angel (9-7) at Doncaster 1m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Professor 16-1 (9-1) Mid-division, pushed along and headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 6th of 17, 5 1/4l behind Buckstay (9-1) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Donncha (IRE) 22-1 (8-12) Towards rear centre, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, never near leaders, 19th of 34, 9l behind Third Time Lucky (8-4) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Halation (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Held up behind stands side, ridden over 1f out, stayed on into mid-division inside final furlong, never nearer, 17th of 34, 7 3/4l behind Third Time Lucky (8-4) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Fort Bastion (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Ran loose before start, held up behind, headway over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to chase leaders inside final furlong, no impression, 5th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Mutasayyid (8-11) at Ayr 1m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Musaddas 14-1 (8-11) Towards rear centre, outpaced 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 7th of 34, 3 1/2l behind Third Time Lucky (8-4) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
