towards rear, ridden 5f out, never a factor
in touch, ridden when weakened over 2f out
held up, ridden 3f out, never near leaders
tracked leaders, reminders over 7f out, weakened over 3f out, eased over 2f out, tailed off
close up on outer, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear, comfortable
tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, stayed on one pace
in rear, never a factor
keen led, clear 8f out, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on same pace
mid-division, ridden when weakened over 2f out
in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, weakened over 2f out
always towards rear
mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace
keen held up, weakened 3f out
close up, weakened 3f out
tracked leaders, weakened over 3f out
mid-division, lost place and dropped to rear 5f out, ridden when headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up on outer, headway 5f out, ridden to lead 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on one pace
held up, weakened over 4f out, tailed off
always towards rear
in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong
slowly away towards rear, never near leaders
Beaten less than a length in last year's Irish St Leger, Aiken has been a disappointment this season and gets first-time blinkers back in handicap company. Stablemate Lahaag bounced back at York last time but has a big weight to carry in testing ground and the progressive NEARLY CAUGHT makes more appeal. He finished a creditable fourth over 1m7f in a Group 2 race at Longchamp last month and trip and ground are no problem for Hughie Morrison's three-year-old. He's certainly more robust than Conduct, having only his sixth start and yet to race on this surface but French-import Open Eagle has decent claims after winning his debut for new connections at Carlisle. Hi There is ending the season in fine form but steps up in trip in search of a hat trick, while Highland Castle went close over track and trip last time and is preferred to recent winners Forgotten Hero and Border Legend in the soft going. The likes of Bohemian Rhapsody and Twelve Strings have it all to do stepping up in class but Nicholascopernicus has a chance at the weights and looks the pick of the remainder.
Aiken 12-1 (9-7) Held up in mid-division on inside, pushed along over 3f out, ridden inside final 3f, driven and weakened over 2f out, eased when no chance final furlong, last of 12, 31l behind Royal Diamond (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Lahaag 8-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Oct beating Nicholascopernicus (9-3) by 3/4l, 18 ran.
Hi There (IRE) 13-2 (8-10) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) hvy in Oct beating Beaumont's Party (9-7) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Nearly Caught (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Valirann (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 7f 3yo Grp 2 (1) sft in Oct.
Conduct (IRE) 7-2fav (9-5) Held up in mid-division, headway on outside 3f out, one pace in 3rd when edged left over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Clon Brulee (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-110 (2) gs in Sep.
Open Eagle (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Made all, ridden and ran on, eased inside final furlong, unchallenged, won at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Sep beating Rio's Rosanna (9-9) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Highland Castle 16-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, headway 4f out, ridden to challenge when hung badly right over 1f out to stand side, every chance inside final furlong, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Thomas Hobson (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Awake My Soul (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders on inside, headway to challenge 3f out, led 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace in clear 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1l behind Tahaamah (9-7) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) hvy in Oct.
Nicholascopernicus (IRE) 13-2 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden when headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 12, 6l behind Thomas Hobson (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Forgotten Hero (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Steadied start held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headway on outer over 1f out, led 1f out, driven out, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gs in Sep beating Greatwood (9-3) by nk, 9 ran.
Communicator 4-1 (10-0) Slowly into stride, held up in last pair in touch, outpaced 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 4th near finish, no impression with leaders, 4th of 6, 5l behind Kiama Bay (9-3) at Chester 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gs in Aug.
Kiama Bay (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Pulled hard in mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Bin Singspiel (8-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Oct.
Border Legend 6-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, driven out, won at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct beating Amaze (9-6) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Bohemian Rhapsody (IRE) 11-4 (9-13) Tracked leader, ridden 4f out, pressed leader from 3f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Quick Jack (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Aug.
Cousin Khee 40-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, 29th of 33, 46l behind Scatter Dice (8-8) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Cashpoint 8-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Hi There (8-10) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) hvy in Oct.
Itlaaq 28-1 (8-12) Raced wide prominent, ridden when weakened 2f out, last of 12, 32l behind Thomas Hobson (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Swnymor (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to take 3rd place inside final furlong, 3rd of 15, 6l behind First Mohican (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct '12.
Rio's Rosanna (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 12, 9l behind Thomas Hobson (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Shrewd 4-1 (8-5) In touch in rear, progress 3f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 4th of 5, 8l behind Battalion (8-2) at Yarmouth 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sep.
Rhombus (IRE) 11-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, driven over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 6l behind She's Late (9-0) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Oct.
Twelve Strings (IRE) 7-2fav (9-7) Dwelt, held up in last pair, headway over 3f out, led 1f out, easily, won at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Sherman McCoy (9-6) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Ex Oriente (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Started very slowly, always behind, 8th of 9, 17l behind Vital Evidence (8-13) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) hvy in Oct.
