difficult loading, held up towards rear, headway near side of group chasing leaders 2f out, hung right from over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up towards rear, headway on far rail when not clear run over 2f out, outpaced inside final 2f, never dangerous after
chased leaders, led over 2f out until 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish
slowly into stride, always towards rear
held up towards rear, not clear run from over 2f out until switched left inside final 2f, headway between horses over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, led towards finish
held up towards rear, headway on far rail chasing leaders over 2f out, soon every chance, ridden and weakened over 1f out
mid-division on far rail, headway chasing leaders 3f out, weakened entering final 2f
slowly into stride, soon mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, soon hampered, weakened and no chance after
held up in mid-division, headway tracking leaders when not clear run over 2f out, switched right to inside rail over 1f out, squeezed through to lead well inside final furlong, headed towards finish
held up towards rear, some late headway, never involved
held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to threaten
led until over 2f out, weakened soon after
mid-division, pushed along 3f out, not clear run 2f out, weakened and no chance after
mid-division, headway near side of group chasing leaders 3f out, led 2f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, lost 3rd towards finish
held up in mid-division, good headway near side of group chasing leaders over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, weakened towards finish
chased leader, every chance 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along to challenge over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
held up in mid-division, headway near side of group chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong until well inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakening when hung right and hampered inside final 2f
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
Last year’s winner Lord Glitters had been placed in the Challenge Cup over 7f here before landing this and Raising Sand won the same event a fortnight ago. He beat Flaming Spear and Escobar in the process and can go well again despite a penalty. Safe Voyage has shown good progress over 7f this year and won a valuable handicap at Galway last time while Argentello also arrives in fine form having won four of his last five starts and beating Via Via at Newmarket in August. The latter ran a big race when third in the Cambridgeshire and finishing in front of a host of these in the process including Kynren, Zwayyan and Sharja Bridge but a speculative vote goes the way of WAARIF. He was also well beaten in the Cambridgeshire but had won a Class 2 handicap in heavy going at Ayr before that and David O’Meara sent out last year’s winner.
Flaming Spear (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Went right start, towards rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on, nearest finish, 5th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Raising Sand (8-11) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Hathal (USA) 14-1 (9-4) Held up last and pushed along at times, last and plenty to do 2f out, headway on outside over 1f out, went 2nd inside final 150 yards, stayed on, not reach winner, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Wadilsafa (9-0) at Sandown 1m lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Mjjack (IRE) 11-4 (9-2) Chased leaders, 2nd over 2f out, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 6 1/2l behind Mankib (9-2) at Newbury 7f lst stks (1) gs in Sep.
Circus Couture (IRE) 40-1 (9-10) Raced centre, mid-division, under pressure over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 29th of 33, dist behind Wissahickon (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Sharja Bridge 10-1 (9-9) Raced centre, in touch, headway when groups merged over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 7th of 33, 7 3/4l behind Wissahickon (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Mitchum Swagger 9-4fav (9-12) Mid-division, ridden inside final 2f, never pace to challenge, gradually weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Alemaratalyoum (8-9) at Haydock 1m hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Safe Voyage (IRE) 7-1 (9-9) Took keen hold early, soon mid-division, 8th before halfway, raced on outer straight and headway, stayed on well final furlong to led near line, won at Galway 7f hcp Yielding in Aug beating Danielsflyer (9-2) by nk, 16 ran.
Aquarium 16-1 (9-4) Pulled hard in mid-division, headway tracking leaders after 2f, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged right, stayed on, won at York 1m 2f hcp (2) sft in Oct beating My Lord And Master (9-3) by nk, 14 ran.
Escobar (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, never a factor, 10th of 15, 7 1/4l behind Raising Sand (8-11) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
South Seas (IRE) 11-4fav (10-0) Mid-division, headway over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no impression on winner, just held onto 2nd, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Enigmatic (8-8) at Goodwood 1m hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Raising Sand 5-1 (8-11) In touch, headway 2f out, quickened to lead just inside final furlong, wandered under pressure, ran on, won at Ascot 7f hcp (2) sft in Oct beating Ripp Orf (8-11) by 2l, 15 ran.
Via Via (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Switched to race in centre group after 1f, in touch, headway when groups merged over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 33, 4 1/4l behind Wissahickon (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Tricorn (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Raced stands side, in touch, under pressure over 2f out, soon weakened, 28th of 33, dist behind Wissahickon (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Another Batt (IRE) (9-1) 9th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Kirk (9-6) at Jagersro 6f pol in Jul.
Argentello (IRE) 4-1 (9-4) Raced keenly, with leader, led 2f out, shaken up well over 1f out, soon clear, ridden out inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Kempton 1m hcp (2) pol in Oct beating Sabador (9-6) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Waarif (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Prominent, every chance over from over 2f out, driven and carried left over 1f out, held by winner inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Just Hiss (8-7) at York 1m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Humbert (IRE) 5-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, pushed along early, then raced keenly and headway on outside chasing leaders 5f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 10l behind Rufus King (9-1) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (2) pol in Aug.
Kynren (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Raced centre, in touch, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 33, 7 3/4l behind Wissahickon (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Raydiance 10-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 11th of 15, 8 1/2l behind Raising Sand (8-11) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Zwayyan 33-1 (9-1) Raced centre, chased leaders, hard driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 16th of 33, 15 3/4l behind Wissahickon (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
