Nearly Caught won this for Hughie Morrison last year and the latter also runs Marmelo, a runner-up in a Group 2 contest at Saint-Cloud last time but behind Godolphin’s Endless Time in the Yorkshire Cup in May when the latter finished fourth. Pallasator was behind Desert Skyline when David Elsworth’s charge finished third in the Goodwood Cup but this can go to the German raider RED CARDINAL, who beat Nearly Caught at Hoppergarten earlier this year and won the Belmont Gold Cup over 2m on his latest start.
Red Cardinal (IRE) 14-5fav (8-9) 3w 3rd,bid 5w upper, won at Belmont Park 2m stks gd in Jun beating St Michel (8-3) by nk, 12 ran.
Way To Paris (9-5) 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Full Drago (9-5) at San Siro 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jun.
Holdthasigreen (FR) (9-7) 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Smart Whip (9-1) at Vichy 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in Jul.
Pallasator 25-1 (9-7) Awkward on way to post, behind, headway on wide outside and switched left over 2f out, ridden and not quicken over 1f out, plugged on, 6th of 14, 10 1/4l behind Stradivarius (8-8) at Goodwood 2m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Nearly Caught (IRE) 6-4fav (9-0) Held up off the pace in 4th, closer 3f out, hanging right when angled to inside well over 1f out, not clear run on rail and switched left over 1f out, 2nd approaching final furlong, ridden to lead and hung right inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Sandown 2m lst stks (1) gf in Jul beating Montaly (9-0) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Moonshiner (GER) (8-13) 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Talismanic (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 1m 6f Grp 2 stks gd in Jul.
Marmelo (8-13) 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Talismanic (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 1m 6f Grp 2 stks gd in Jul.
Desert Skyline (IRE) 14-1 (8-8) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 3f out, chased leaders in 3rd and hung right from over 2f out, plugged on, 3rd of 14, 5 1/4l behind Stradivarius (8-8) at Goodwood 2m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Endless Time (IRE) 5-2fav (9-6) Held up in mid-division, closer tracking leaders 8f out, not clear run over 2f out, switched left inside final 2f, headway when in the clear over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to lead close home, won at Goodwood 1m 6f Grp 3 fll stks (1) sft in Aug beating Dubka (9-6) by nk, 10 ran.
Casterton (IRE) (8-12) 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Baiyouna (8-9) at Deauville 1m 4f stks gd in Aug.