prominent, not much room on inside soon after start, tracked leaders, went 2nd over 1f out until inside final furlong, kept on
bumped start, led, headed 5f out, led over 3f out, kept on well, just pushed out close home
bumped start, chased leaders, ridden and not quicken over 1f out, one pace
slowly into stride, in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no impression on winner
went left start and bumped rival, soon led, headed over 3f out, one pace and beaten over 1f out
This looks tricky with doubts surrounding most of the runners. Blackheath won a lower grade sprint at Salisbury last month while Nine Below Zero and Kodiac Express are both proving best over the minimum trip. Encrypted has lost his way since scoring at York in June and remains 6lb higher while ROUSSEL has failed to threaten since going close in Listed company at York in May. But the latter faces an easier task today and the Godolphin charge gets a speculative vote to return to form in first-time headgear.
Roussel (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, weakened inside final 2f, last of 12, 10 3/4l behind Baron Bolt (9-8) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Encrypted 9-1 (9-7) Towards rear, pushed along and struggling halfway, never a factor, 11th of 13, 18 1/4l behind Shaheen (8-13) at Windsor 6f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Nine Below Zero 6-1 (9-8) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Little Boy Blue (8-13) at Brighton 5f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Blackheath 7-1 (8-8) Raced wide, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Shaheen (8-13) at Windsor 6f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Kodiac Express (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Tracked leader in pair towards near side, weakened 2f out, last of 5, 5 3/4l behind Awesome (9-4) at Newbury 5f hcp (4) gd in Aug.