held up in rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, kept on to go 2nd close home (dismounted)
tracked leader, joined leader 8f out, led over 5f out, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, led over 2f out, pushed clear final furlong
in touch, headway to track leaders over 4f out, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, headway to track leaders over 4f out, ridden to chase winner over 2f out, keeping on same pace and lost 2nd close home
led, joined 8f out, headed over 5f out, weakened 4f out, tailed off
Dual Group 1 winner KEW GARDENS is penalised having landed the St Leger in good style in September. But Aidan O’Brien’s charge is a cut above these and can make a winning reappearance if running anywhere near his best. Stablemate Cypress Creek needs further and so does last year’s Chester Cup winner Magic Circle, who went on to land a Group 3 contest over 2m at Sandown before well beaten in the Melbourne Cup. Morando won a Group 3 over 1m4f at Newbury in October and acts on soft going. He may prove the biggest threat with both Dalgarno and Warnaq likely to struggle on today’s terms.
Kew Gardens (IRE) (8-12) 7th of 19, 3 3/4l behind Enable (9-2) at Longchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 gs in Oct.
Cypress Creek (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Tracked leading trio on outside, pushed along and unable to quicken over 2f out, plugged on late, no impression, last of 6, 2 3/4l behind Stradivarius (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) sft in Oct.
Morando (FR) 8-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 2f out, switched right and stayed on strongly inside final furlong, strong challenge close home, joined leader post, won at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Oct beating Young Rascal (9-1), 10 ran.
Dalgarno (FR) 6-1 (9-7) Keen early, in touch, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 1 1/4l behind Collide (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Apr.
Magic Circle (IRE) 6-1 (8-11) 16th of 24, 19 1/2l behind Cross Counter (8-0) at Flemington 2m Grp 1 hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Warnaq (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Led, 2 lengths clear halfway, strongly pressed 2 1/2f out, soon headed, ridden 2f out, dropped to 3rd 1f out, kept on final furlong without threatening, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Cimeara (9-5) at Cork 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in Apr.