chased leader until ridden along 4f out, soon lost place, last and struggling straight, tailed off
tracked leaders, challenged from 4f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4f out, ridden and weakened 2f out
held up in 5th, ridden when not much room over 1f out, plugged on one pace final furlong
soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no chance with winner when lost 2nd 1f out, weakened final furlong
raced wide throughout, held up 7th, ridden and headway on wide outside over 2f out, soon hung right but stayed on to chase winner 1f out, no impression final furlong
steadied rear, effort and switched right to rails 2f out, soon hanging right and beaten over 1f out
held up in 6th, headway towards inside 2f out, led over 1f out, in command final furlong, stayed on strongly
The selection for the 'Cumberland Lodge' is Crosspeace, who gets the vote ahead of Munsef and Kandidate. A listed winner on Turf, Kandidate is entitled to respect, even though his best efforts have come on the all-weather, as evidenced by his Kempton Group 3 win last time. He beat Crosspeace a length and a quarter in that latter race, with Bravo Maestro a further two and three quarter lengths back in fourth. Crosspeace holds solid claims today. Foxhaven, who improved to score in Listed class last time, has a neck and three lengths to find with Crosspeace based on early-August form, while narrow Ebor runner-up, Glistening, has a few pounds to find based on the best of his form if he is to score today, as does Profit's Reality, and the Ebor third, Young Mick, who continues to amaze with his improvement. Finally, Munsef has proven himself competitive at this level in the past and, officially rated the second-best of these, has to come into the reckoning, Overall, though, we will give the vote to Crosspeace.
Birkspiel (GER) 12-1 (9-4) Tracked leader to 4f out, weakened over 2f out, eased when no chance over 1f out, 8th of 9, 26l behind Akarem (9-1) at Ascot 1m 4f lst stk (1) sft in May.
Kandidate 3-1 (9-4) Never far away, headway 2f out, led 1f out, in command when edged left final furlong, stayed on well, won at Kempton 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) pol beating Crosspeace (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Crosspeace (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Held up, progress 3f out, edged right behind winner over 1f out, stayed on well inside, 2nd of 6, nk behind Pictavia (8-11) at Goodwood 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Foxhaven 3-1 (9-1) Led early, prominent, ridden 2f out, led 1f out, ran on, won at Chester 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf beating Soulacroix (9-1) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Glistening 13-2 (9-0) Held up, headway 4f out, ridden over 2f out, led 1f out, headed post, 2nd of 19, hd behind Mudawin (8-4) at York 1m 6f hcap (2) gs in Aug.
Munsef 5-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, stayed on under pressure to press for 2nd near finish, 3rd of 5, 3/4l behind Admiral's Cruise (9-3) at Newbury 1m 5f Grp 3 (1) gs in Aug.
Profit's Reality (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Led after 1f, headed over 4f out, led again over 3f out, soon ridden, one pace, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Mashaahed (8-8) at Ayr 1m 2f lst stk (1) gs.
Young Mick 12-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway 9f out, ridden over 2f out, every chance final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 19, nk behind Mudawin (8-4) at York 1m 6f hcap (2) gs in Aug.
Bravo Maestro (USA) 20-1 (9-4) Pulled hard towards rear, good headway over 1f out, ran on well final furlong, nearest finish, 8th of 20, 3 1/2l behind Pinpoint (9-3) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gd.
