tracked leader, led inside final 3f, driven and stayed on until headed final 100 yards
tracked leading pair, went 2nd going well 2f out, driven and stayed on to lead final 100 yards
led and pushed along virtually throughout, headed inside final 3f, weakened 2f out
held up in close 4th, headway on outside 3f out, driven 2f out and soon beaten
Serpentaria steps back up in trip and gets a handy weight-for-age allowance however Caracciola and Secret Ploy both come here in good form and the vote goes to Secret Ploy. The selection has only had four starts on the flat but has won half of them as well as four over hurdles. His win last time out at Goodwood showed that this lightly-raced seven year old retains plenty of ability and whilst he is not straightforward, if he is allowed to dominate from the front here then he could be hard to beat. Caracciola only found Leg Spinner too good at Ascot and has won 11 of his 42 starts under both codes. That is a tremendous record by anyone's standards and whilst he remains a threat, the suspicion is that he would prefer softer ground. Colloquial was third in that Ascot contest and is very much at home on quick ground. However he has to give weight away to the whole field which could prove difficult. Serpentaria completes the field but is yet to really impress as much as he promises to deliver, and so Secret Ploy gets the vote.
Colloquial 8-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 3f out, led briefly just over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Leg Spinner (8-13) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.
Caracciola (GER) 20-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden 2f out, led 1f out, soon headed, no extra, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Leg Spinner (8-13) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.
Secret Ploy 16-1 (8-6) Led, pushed along 6f out, ridden and narrowly headed 3f out, rallied gamely to regain lead over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Goodwood 2m 5f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Aug beating Afrad (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Serpentaria 14-1 (8-3) Held up behind leaders, led over 3f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 19, 7l behind Speed Gifted (8-11) at York 1m 6f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Aug.