tracked leader, led after 2f, headed over 1f out, lost 2nd place inside final furlong
led 2f, tracked leader, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 7f out, soon lost place
slowly away, in rear, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on to lead towards finish
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
dwelt, behind, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leaders, weakened 2f out
in touch, every chance over 1f out, soon ridden, weakened entering final furlong
Soundbyte and Penang Cinta are both previous C&D winners. The latter has been way below his best this year but the former has been in action over hurdles, as have Beggar's Opera and Hilfiger, and it would be no surprise to see him in the firing-line back on the Flat. Autarch has been tailed off in both starts since winning over 1m2f here in May but Before Bruce won at Chepstow last time and Thomas Garner again takes off 7lb while LASER BLAZER finally got off the mark at Bath 15 days ago. That win will have done his confidence the world of good and Jeremy Gask's gelding, who rarely runs a bad race, can follow up here.
Before Bruce 40-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, led soon after halfway, in command final 2f, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) fm in Jul beating Abundantly (8-13) by 2 1/4l, 14 ran.
Beggar's Opera (IRE) 7-1 (9-8) Chased leader, pushed wide on 1st turn, lost 2nd 4f out, weakened 3f out, 7th of 12, 26l behind Kiss A Prince (9-13) at Lingfield 1m 4f sell stks (6) pol in Jun.
Soundbyte 20-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden over 5f out, never a factor, 6th of 9, 9l behind Appeal (8-5) at Lingfield 1m 5f app hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Laser Blazer 8-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, held up well in rear, last rio and plenty to do 3f out, headway on outer inside final 2f, chased leaders over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, won going away, won at Bath 1m 5f hcp 0-65 (6) fm in Jul beating Holden Eagle (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Squad 33-1 (9-4) Slowly away, towards rear, ridden and no chance when pushed left 2f out, 9th of 15, 17l behind Arashi (8-12) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.
Penang Cinta 14-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon lost place, 8th of 9, 30l behind Bouggatti (9-7) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Jun.
Thundering Home 33-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders, went 2nd 2f out, driven and lost 2nd over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Taroum (9-4) at Brighton 1m 4f app hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Jul.
Autarch (USA) 14-1 (8-11) Chased leading pair until 7f out, lost place quickly inside final 5f, soon lost touch, tailed off, 14th of 15, well behind Arashi (8-12) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.
Astroleo 22-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, led inside final 4f, riddenand headed over 2f out, weakened 2f out, 10th of 12, 22l behind Laser Blazer (8-13) at Bath 1m 5f hcp 0-65 (6) fm in Jul.
Hilfiger (GER) (7-12) 5th of 8, 7l behind Titurel (9-6) at Baden-Baden(GER) 1m 4f hcp 0-100 gd in Sep '09.
