held up, pushed along halfway, switched left well over 2f out, headway over 1f out, no extra final 150 yards
slowly away, held up, headway when not clear run 2f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, held by winner towards finish, stayed on
soon led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, rallied to lead inside final furlong, ran on
led early, tracked leader, led again well over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
Some old favourites face the starter here including the last two winners of this contest. Balthazaar's Gift was successful 12 months ago, beating Premio Loco by half-a-length with 2009 winner Duff a close-up fourth. Little has gone right for winner since, however, whereas the runner-up was placed in a Group 1 at Newbury earlier this year, though is arguably more effective over 1m. Duff appears on the downgrade but The Cheka has shown a consistent level of form and finished ahead of Balthazaar's Gift when conceding 4lb at Goodwood last time. But it's DAFEEF that gets the nod as he is the least exposed of this quintet and there was plenty of promise in his comeback run at York when just behind last week's Haydock winner King Torus. Taking his defeat of Deacon Blues and Bated Breath at Newmarket a year ago literally, he would be a good thing in this company.
Balthazaar's Gift (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Rider removed blind late, dwelt held up, ridden over 2f out, not troubled leaders, 7th of 8, 2 3/4l behind Libranno (8-13) at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug.
Dafeef 11-2 (9-0) Switched leaft after start, took keen hold, held up in last trio, ridden over 2f out, headway and edged left over 1f out, one pace and no real impression inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 4l behind Doncaster Rover (9-0) at York 7f Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Aug.
Duff (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Prominent, 3rd 3f out, soon ridden and no impression, 12th of 18, 11l behind Below Zero (9-2) at Leopardstown 7f hcp gd.
Premio Loco (USA) 10-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 5th of 7, 5l behind Dubawi Gold (8-9) at Goodwood 1m Grp 2 (1) gs in Aug.
The Cheka (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on one pace final furlong, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Libranno (8-13) at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug.