raced keenly, led but pressed, headed inside final 3f, weakened quickly final 2f
held up in 5th, outpaced over 3f out, headway into modest 3rd inside final 2f
pressed leader and keen, challenged 3f out, soon led, went clear 2f out, ridden over 1f out, always just doing enough
raced keenly tracking leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, closer and hung left over 1f out, kept on but always held
tracked leading pair until pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out
dwelt, held up last, outpaced over 3f out, plugged on in modest 4th over 1f out
Dubai Warrior disappointed in a Group 3 race at Longchamp in September having gone close over track and trip before that. He should do better back at this venue while Victory Bond has won conditions races on the all-weather but has yet to win a handicap and hasn’t raced since April. Kasbaan and Aweedram have both landed doubles over a mile this year with the former’s coming at Kempton but he remains 8lb higher than his latest success while Circus Couture arrives out of form. ELWAZIR (NAP) has faced tougher tasks than this so far this year including behind Air Pilot, rated 114, in Listed company at Goodwood last time. The drop in class could see Owen Burrows’ colt back to winning ways on his all-weather debut and he gets the nod.
Elwazir 7-2 (9-2) Prominent, led over 8f out, headed over 1f out, soon hampered badly, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 5 3/4l behind Air Pilot (9-2) at Goodwood 1m 2f lst stks (1) hvy in Sep.
Victory Bond 16-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 9 1/2l behind Matterhorn (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f (2) pol in Apr.
Dubai Warrior (9-3) 7th of 8, 9 3/4l behind Soudania (8-13) at ParisLongchamp 1m 2f Grp 3 gd in Sep.
Kasbaan 6-4fav (9-7) Tracked leaders on outside, caught four wide on home turn, pushed along over 2f out, stayed on late, never going pace to challenge, 4th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Via Serendipity (10-0) at Kempton 1m hcp (2) pol in Oct.
Circus Couture (IRE) 66-1 (8-11) In touch in mid-division, headway 3f out, weakened from over 2f out, 16th of 20, 24l behind Escobar (9-6) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Aweedram (IRE) 11-1 (9-3) Dwelt towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 7 1/4l behind Passion And Glory (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Oct.