held up in touch, headway over 1f out, no impression
chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well
led until approaching final furlong, soon rallied, kept on under pressure
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, chasing leaders when wandered under pressure entering final furlong, no extra
tracked leaders, lost place over 1f out
Starboy has already had a good season, winning three times. He’s high enough in the weights now but is still likely to give a good account. Ghayadh won over 7f at Carlisle in July so should stay the mile here but he’s been beaten twice off higher marks since and has gone up a further 5lb. WATHEEQA has been generally progressive and won her maiden by seven lengths here in July. She’s had a break and this is a tougher race but Roger Varian’s filly has the most scope of these. Orange Suit is edging towards a fair mark but Macaque is usually worth opposing. Whitehall was placed in this grade at Newmarket in April but was disappointing at Kempton last month after going close at Sandown.
Starboy (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Rum Runner (9-3) at Newmarket 7f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Ghayadh 4-1 (9-6) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, led and edged right over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Presidential (10-1) at Redcar 7f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Macaque 11-4 (9-7) Slowly into stride, led after 1f, headed 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 7, 4 3/4l behind Arigato (9-2) at Epsom 1m 1f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Watheeqa (USA) 2-9fav (8-9) Made all, soon 5 lengths clear, drew further clear 2f out, unchallenged, eased closing stages, won at Bath 1m stks (5) fm in Jul beating Gateway (9-0) by 7l, 5 ran.
Whitehall 9-2 (9-7) Veered sharply left start and reluctant to race, lost all chance and behind, driven and headway from 2f out, kept on, 7th of 12, 11 1/4l behind King's Slipper (9-5) at Kempton 1m hcp (4) pol in Aug.
Orange Suit (IRE) 4-1 (9-2) Soon led, headed over 2f out, soon ridden, one pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Shuhood (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Aug.