Entered yesterday at Pontefract, Alix James would have a chance in this if turning up. Eton College was favourite over course and distance last month but found one too good. Twice a winner over 6f earlier in the year, he goes on the short-list again. Incognito has been running well without reward and June’s Ripon winner Silver Mission has experience of heavy ground and is worth considering. MISCHIEF STAR was successful over track and trip in August and a little unlucky at Chester last month. He’s only been raised a pound for that effort so is preferred to War Storm, tried in blinkers after finding a Class 2 beyond him at Doncaster. He has never raced on anything worse than good ground to date, however.
Eton College (IRE) 5-4fav (10-4) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Kuwait Shield (8-13) at Catterick 7f (4) gf in Sep.
War Storm 33-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, ridden to lead briefly over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 13th of 20, 7 1/2l behind King's Lynn (8-9) at Doncaster 7f stks (2) gf in Sep.
Sir Charles Punch 9-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd final 100 yards, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Dontaskmeagain (9-9) at Beverley 7f stks (5) sft in Sep.
Silver Mission (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Bumped start, held up in last trio, pushed along on outside 3f out, headway on outside stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to challenge, 4th of 8, 1 1/4l behind Imperial Empire (9-1) at Sandown 7f (4) gf in Aug.
Mischief Star 20-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, hampered over 1f out, every chance entering final furlong, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind Powertrain (9-7) at Chester 7f (4) gd in Sep.
Alix James 10-1 (8-6) Chased leaders on outside, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Stone Soldier (8-11) at Chester 6f Grp 3 (2) sft in Sep.
Araka Li (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Held up mid-division, driven over 2f out, never pace to challenge, ridden and weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 13, 9 3/4l behind Breguet Boy (9-5) at Redcar 1m (5) gd in Sep.
Incognito (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Prominent, led 6f out, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 11, 2l behind Belle Anglaise (9-7) at Chelmsford City 7f fll stks (4) pol in Sep.
