led, ridden and headed over 1f out, held inside final furlong, kept on
tracked leader, pushed along 3f out, not much room over 1f out, beaten when hampered inside final furlong, no extra
chased leaders, effort from 2f out, challenged over 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish
slow to break, held up in rear, switched left 2f out, headway entering final furlong, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
held up, ridden over 2f out, no impression
held up, closed 3f out, switched left 2f out, led over 1f out, edged right and went clear entering final furlong, comfortably
Arctic Emperor failed in a bid for a four-timer upped to today’s trip at Sandown while Hector's Here was well beaten last time having won over track and trip before that with Regal Mirage behind. The latter won this in 2018 and scored at Pontefract recently but ZIHAAM (NAP) gets the vote. Roger Fell’s charge ran his best race for some time when runner-up here last month and looks set to add to his current tally of six course wins back over this longer trip. Casilli won a lower grade contest here earlier in the month while Oasis Prince has been hurdling without success so far this year.
Arctic Emperor 7-2 (10-11) Tracked winner, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Bad Company (10-8) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Oasis Prince 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, not fluent last, switched right flat, just held but kept on well, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Midnight Jewel (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Hector's Here 13-2 (10-0) Restrained in rear, switched wide and ridden 3f out, some headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 8 1/2l behind Aweedram (9-10) at Chester 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Regal Mirage (IRE) 7-2 (9-9) Steadied start, held up in rear, good headway on inside over 1f out, stayed on to lead final 110 yards, won at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Jul beating Where's Jeff (9-11) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Zihaam 10-1 (9-7) Steadied start, held up off the pace in 4th, headway on inside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Commonsensical (9-2) at Beverley 1m hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Casilli 10-3 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway when switched left under 2f out, closed well on outer over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong and led final strides, won at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (5) gd in Aug beating Zeimaam (9-12) by shd, 10 ran.