held up behind leaders, headway over 1f out, driven and every chance approaching final furlong, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, driven over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
prominent, ridden along over 3f out, soon weakened
towards rear, ridden along 3f out, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, driven out
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, every chance over 1f out until weakened approaching final furlong
prominent, effort over 2f out, soon beaten
held up in rear, ridden along and headway 2f out, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
Red Gala is open to any of amount of improvement and is a confident choice here ahead of Fairmile, Heaven Knows and Benandonner. Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old returned to the fray at Newbury in April, beating the now 93 rated Samurai Way by a comfortable margin. Fitness should not be a problem with a runner from this yard and he could still be ahead of the handicapper. Fairmile hasn't shown too much since joining Godolphin but he was a progressive handicapper for Walter Swinburn last season and is hard to overlook. Benandonner is holding his form well and comes here following a good effort in a hot race at York. Heaven Knows is lightly raced for a four-year-old and should strip fitter following a seasonal return at York. However Sir Michael should know how he stands with most of these as he has picked up plenty of big handicap prizes this season, and he can pinch another here with Red Gala.
Fairmile (8-9) Missed break, late headway, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Mystical (8-11) at Nad Al Sheba 1m 2f hcp 0-110 gd in Mar.
All The Good (IRE) 7-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders in 4th, smooth headway to lead early straight, strongly pressed well inside final furlong, headed last strides, 2nd of 14, hd behind Emmpat (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 3f prm hcp pol in Aug.
Star of Light 14-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, led over 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 8th of 18, 3 1/2l behind Greek Well (9-0) at York 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
Red Gala 7-4fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, switched out over 1f out, led inside final furlong, flashed tail, ran on well, won at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Apr beating Samurai Way (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Benandonner (USA) 11-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, driven, one pace final furlong, 6th of 18, 4l behind The Illies (8-3) at York 1m hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
Heaven Knows 7-2fav (9-7) In touch, ridden and effort when edged right 1f out, weakened final furlong, 11th of 18, 6l behind Greek Well (9-0) at York 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
Chantaco (USA) 8-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden along 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 12, 11l behind Flipando (9-3) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in May.
Ladies Best 8-1 (8-3) Mid-division, ridden, switched left over 3f out, hampered over 2f out, weakened after, 14th of 17, 11l behind Pipedreamer (8-4) at Goodwood 1m 2f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Aug.
