held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on and impression
always towards rear
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, faded entering final furlong
chased leaders, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon every chance, no extra inside final furlong
always towards rear
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon headed, kept on towards finish
held up mid-division, ridden and no headway over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, kept on well, ridden out
held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
prominent, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
dwelt, held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, some headway, never a factor
slowly away, always towards rear
chased leader, ridden over 2f out, one pace inside final furlong
held up towards rear, effort over 1f out, never dangerous
held up mid-division, weakened 2f out
led, headed over 2f out, ridden entering final furlong, kept on to take 3rd towards finish
dwelt, held up in rear, never a factor
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final 100 yards
held up mid-division, weakened over 3f out
The unbeaten First Mohican was the strong ante-post favourite coming into this year's renewal. He's highly progressive but, stepping up in trip off a 12lb higher mark and racing on likely good ground for the first time, he's worth taking on. Godolphin run four with Mickael Barzalona riding topweight Retrieve, a Listed winner at Newbury but beaten off a lower mark in a handicap back in July. The Tiger is another making good progress and is preferred to stablemate Voodoo Prince, despite a 9lb rise, while Goodwood winner Nicholascopernicus steps up in class having been raised the same amount. Bridle Belle and Party Line are recent soft ground winners who will be hoping for a bit more cut and we may not have seen the best of the lightly-raced Clayton yet. Communicator and Blue Surf are comfortable in this grade and arrive in good form but the vote goes to KIRTHILL. His only previous attempt at today's trip resulted in a victory at York in August and there should be more to come from Luca Cumani's colt over the distance.
Retrieve (AUS) 5-2fav (9-4) In rear, switched left 7f out, headway over 2f out, soon chased leading pair, led inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Newmarket 1m 4f Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Sep beating Harris Tweed (9-11) by 1l, 7 ran.
Songcraft (IRE) 28-1 (9-3) Close up, headway 3f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, soon headed, kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Hazel Lavery (8-7) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) hvy in Oct.
Kirthill (IRE) 9-2fav (9-10) Held up rear of mid-division on inside, not clear run over 3f out, hesdway and hung left over 1f out, stayed on to 4th inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 4th of 16, 6l behind Hajras (8-11) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep.
First Mohican 7-4fav (9-4) Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, won at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct beating Art Scholar (9-4) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.
Voodoo Prince 4-1fav (9-5) Slowly away, in rear, pushed 3f out, soon outpaced, kept on well inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Fattsota (10-0) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) sft in Oct.
Darley Sun (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Keen tracked leaders, lost a couple of places over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on towards finish, not pace to challenge, 4th of 6, 1 3/4l behind Lieutenant Miller (9-3) at Pontefract 2m 2f cond Stakes (3) gs in Oct.
Communicator 9-2fav (8-11) Towards rear, headway on outer from over 3f out, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed final strides, 2nd of 13, nk behind Tominator (9-0) at Chester 1m 5f listed hcp 0-110 (1) gd in Sep.
Blue Surf 7-1 (8-11) Travelled well tracked leader, led on bit over 1f out, idled inside final furlong, ridden towards finish, won at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) hvy in Oct beating Borug (8-9) by nk, 12 ran.
Art Scholar (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Held up in mid-division, headway goong well over 2f out, went 2nd well over 1f out, led 1f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, unable to quicken, 2nd of 21, 1 1/2l behind Party Line (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Crystal Gal (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) Tracked winner until ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Cochabamba (8-12) at Leicester 1m flls cond stks (3) sft in Oct.
Art History (IRE) 25-1 (9-6) Mid-division, ridden and weakened over 3f out, tailed off, 18th of 21, well behind Party Line (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
War Poet 12-1 (9-8) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 15th of 19, 25l behind Kirthill (10-0) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Aug.
The Tiger 8-11fav (9-9) Towards rear, smooth headway over 4f out, went 2nd over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct beating Into Wain (9-9) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Scrapper Smith (IRE) 20-1 (9-6) Switched left soon after start, held up, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, 12th of 21, 20l behind Party Line (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Sirvino 12-1 (9-5) Held up in touch, outpaced over 3f out, rallied over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 21, 4l behind Party Line (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Nicholascopernicus (IRE) 7-2fav (8-13) Held up in last pair, headway over 2f out, travelling well when switched left over 1f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, soon clear, won at Goodwood 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct beating Princess Caetani (8-2) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Clayton 5-1fav (9-3) Keen with leader until lost a couple of places 4f out, rallied over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Blazing Speed (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Bridle Belle 9-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, headway on outer 3f out, every chance 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, edged right and left stayed on, won at Newmarket 1m 4f flls hcp 0-130 (3) sft beating Varnish (8-10) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Samba King 16-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, weakened from over 1f out, eased, 11th of 21, 19l behind Party Line (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Hillview Boy (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out until well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 21, 8l behind Party Line (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Party Line 12-1 (8-8) Held up in touch in mid-division, closed over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, led again inside final furlong, stayed on gamely, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct beating Art Scholar (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 21 ran.
Hanoverian Baron 16-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 5l behind Fattsota (10-0) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) sft in Oct.
Bollin Greta 40-1 (9-3) Always towards rear, 12th of 15, 38l behind First Mohican (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct.
