keen tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, no threat to winner
made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on
tracked winner, ridden over 1f out, no impression and lost 2nd towards finish
took keen hold close up, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong
slow into stride, close up in rear, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced
All of these can be given a chance including Cavatina and Comrade In Arms, who make their handicap debuts and seasonal reappearances for the powerful Haggas and Stoute yards respectively. The remaining trio all bid for hat-tricks with both Ode To Autumn and Image winning at Newcastle last time, though the latter is upped in class. LUNA ECLIPSE scored over course and distance last month and beat a couple of subsequent winners in the process. Andrew Balding’s colt gets a tentative vote in a tough race to call on the strength of that form.
Ode To Autumn 8-13fav (9-8) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led over 2f out, driven and hard pressed inside final furlong, held on, won at Newcastle 1m hcp (4) pol in Feb beating Bachelor (9-7) by shd, 4 ran.
Luna Eclipse (IRE) 15-8fav (9-2) With leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, held on towards finish, won at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (4) pol in Mar beating Poet's Prince (9-5) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Image 5-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden out, won at Newcastle 1m hcp fll (5) pol in Apr beating Elixsoft (8-9) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Cavatina 4-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, won at Kempton 7f fll stks (5) pol in Oct beating Scandaleuse (9-0) by nk, 12 ran.
Comrade In Arms (USA) 9-1 (9-2) Chased leader, effort over 2f out, kept on well under pressure, never reached winner, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Montague (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f stks (5) pol in Oct.