tracked leaders, ridden and effort 2f out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, smooth headway to lead 2f out, soon clear, driven out, comfortably
mid-division, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in rear, ridden 3f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong to go 3rd towards finish
mid-division, ridden 2f out, never on terms
behind, outpaced 4f out, never dangerous
tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, soon one pace, lost 3rd towards finish
led, headed over 3f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final 2f
There's no denying that Bagber is on top form but he doesn't look thrown in at the weights now back in handicap company so instead we like the look of Godolphin's EMIRATES CHAMPION now the colt is massively downed in grade and Magic Echo also makes the shortlist. After winning a very warm looking maiden on his only start as a two-year-old the selection found listed company too hot to handle on his seasonal reappearance. There was no disgrace in that as he was beaten by some smart looking types and he looks well treated on his first handicap start. Bagber is hat-trick hunting here but those two previous successes have come in a maiden and then a claimer and judging on his previous handicap attempts his rating looks a little high. Magic Echo is best over this trip and looks weighted to run a big race as his rating drops below the 80 mark for the first time since winning in April 2008. At just a pound above his last winning mark Wee Charlie Castle is also of interest but it could be that Emirates Champion is a class above these and he also looks good at the weights.
Charlie Tokyo (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Slowly away, in rear, hampered and lost ground 5f out, kept on final furlong, never dangerous, 8th of 15, 22l behind Veiled Applause (8-6) at York 1m 2f app hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Emirates Champion 12-1 (9-0) Prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 5th of 6, 12l behind Parthenon (9-0) at Hamilton 1m 3f 3yo lst stk (1) gd in May.
Magic Echo 12-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway on inside 2f out, never near leaders, 5th of 11, 5l behind Collateral Damage (9-4) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep.
Wee Charlie Castle (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Behind, headway under pressure over 1f out, soon no impression, 5th of 7, 11l behind Ascendant (9-12) at Musselburgh 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Sep.
King's Head (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Quai D'orsay (9-6) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Tiger Dream 5-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Denton (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Bagber 8-13fav (9-5) Tracked leader, led 7f out, pushed along from 2f out, ridden out final furlong, won at Salisbury 1m 2f clm stks (5) gf in Sep beating Sixties Swinger (9-0) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Oddsmaker (IRE) 15-2 (9-3) Led after 2f, pushed along 4f out, headed over 3f out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 21l behind Black Rain (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Shy Glance (USA) 16-1 (8-7) Close up, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 15, 24l behind Veiled Applause (8-6) at York 1m 2f app hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
