chased leaders, went 2nd over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders and keen, ridden over 2f out, one pace and no impression final 2f
held up in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
made all, shaken up to go clear over 1f out, easily
chased winner, ridden over 3f out, chased winner over 2f out, no impression
Doubts exist about all the field but a chance is taken that Almuraad will be suited by this more conventional track and show the benefit from his recent blow out at Epsom. Ecomium has always been very highly regarded and has a chance to show why Jeremy Noseda thinks so highly of him, while Echo Of Light and Khyber Kim also have more to offer and are worth considering. Blythe Knight completes the line up and is no back number himself. However, Ed Dunlop's charge looks vulnerable to improvers at this stage of his career and he will need to be at his best to gain that elusive first win of the season. Khyber Kim has endured his share of training problems but showed that he has ability by winning his solitary previous start in comfortable fashion. His trainer, Henry Candy, thinks the son of Mujahid still has a good bit of learning to do. So, despite his scope for improvement, he is lacks the experience to be a solid betting proposition in this company. Echo Of Light blotted his copybook when he ran out at Windsor on his seasonal debut. But then put the record straight with a facile victory at Yarmouth last month. This is a much stiffer test but this well-bred type is fully expected to be capable of finding more improvement when asked for effort. His tendency to hang is a worry for his supporters, though, and he will not get away with a lack lustre effort on ties occasion. Ecomium is another whose career has been restricted by training setbacks and has only raced three times to date. The son of Sadler's Wells showed great promise as a three-year-old has not been seen since he finished sixth in the Winter Derby at Lingfield, so obviously has his fitness to prove. Therefore, we turn to Almuraad, who was in need of the run on his reappearance. Sir Michael Stoute, who never keeps a four-year-old in training unless he rates them very highly, can take heart form the predicted faster ground conditions and, with race-fitness now on his side, Almuraad is fancied to deliver the good today.
Almuraad (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Close up in 4th, chased leading pair 3f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Etesaal (9-7) at Epsom 1m 2f stk (3) gd in Aug.
Blythe Knight (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Towards rear, headway on inner over 2f out, ridden and one pace final furlong, 7th of 17, 3 1/2l behind Courageous Duke (9-0) at Haydock 1m 3f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Aug.
Ecomium (IRE) 3-1fav (8-12) Raced wide, in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 6th of 14, 4l behind Eccentric (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stk (A1) pol in Mar.
Echo of Light 2-5fav (9-0) Hung right throughout, led 10f out, pushed clear over 3f out, very easily, won at Yarmouth 1m 3f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Aug beating Conscript (9-0) by 8l, 4 ran.
Khyber Kim 9-2 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and switched right approaching final furlong, ran on well to lead close home, won at Haydock 1m 3f mdn stk (5) gd in Aug beating Lilac Mist (8-9) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
