mid-division, closed 4f out, lost place over 2f out, well beaten over 1f out
held up in touch, took keen hold, steadied into mid-division after 1f, headway on outside from 4f out, went 2nd over 2f out, no impression on winner from over 1f out, kept on
led early, prominent, ridden over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, took keen hold early stages, switched left and closed over 3f out, switched right over 2f out, soon led, clear over 1f out, stayed on well
soon led, headed and hung left over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
sweating, held up towards rear, switched right and headway over 3f out, driven over 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, stayed on, no impression on winner
prominent, led over 3f out, driven and headed over 2f out, no extra inside final 100 yards
last to break, held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, well beaten final 2f
held up in rear, headway over 3f out, went 3rd over 1f out until inside final furlong, kept on same pace
Desert Hero has come on in leaps and bounds since upped in trip and edged out Chesspiece in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on soft going. He’d be a popular winner sporting the Royal colours. Middle Earth was impressive in landing the valuable Melrose Handicap at York over 1m6f but runner-up Denmark is 4lb better off and Oisin Murphy’s mount is likely to be the outsider of the three Gosden runners. Frankie has ridden Arrest in all four starts this year and has plumped again for the Frankel colt, who won the Chester Vase on his reappearance and started favourite for the Derby in June. However, he disappointed that day and again at Royal Ascot before winning the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury when getting weight from older horses. Soft ground isn’t a problem but Dettori, riding in his final classic, may have chosen the wrong one to the benefit of Kieran Shoemark. The Italian tried to make the most of GREGORY’s proven stamina in the Great Voltigeur last month but went off far too quickly, allowing Ryan Moore and Continuous to pick up the pieces. This much more searching test should see those placings reversed on better terms as long as the Queen’s Vase winner handles forecast conditions. Alexandroupolis is probably a pacemaker but Tower Of London should stay and could run into a place.
Alexandroupolis (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, a little keen early, pushed along in 6th 2f out, ridden and no impression when not clear run and slightly hampered 1f out, soon switched right and kept on one pace, no extra final 100 yards, 6th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Harbour Wind (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 6f lst stks (1) gd in Aug.
Arrest (IRE) 5-6fav (9-1) Wore hood to post, raced keenly, made all, raced wide until halfway, led field centre in home straight, stayed on strongly final furlong, eased towards finish, unchallenged, won at Newbury 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Aug beating Ching Shih (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Chesspiece 7-2 (9-3) Soon led, quickened pace over 3f out, ridden and edged left briefly over 1f out, strongly pressed and hung left inside final furlong, kept on well until headed and no extra inside final 100 yards, 2nd of 6, nk behind Desert Hero (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Aug.
Continuous (JPN) 4-1 (9-2) Held up in rear off the pace, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, ran on, won at York 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug beating Castle Way (9-2) by 3 3/4l, 5 ran.
Denmark 9-4fav (9-9) Raced wide, keen in touch, carried head high when shaken up over 2f out, soon ridden and edged left under pressure, ran on but no match for first two, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Naqeeb (9-7) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Desert Hero 7-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, headway travelling well when not clear run inside final 2f, soon switched right, strong challenge inside final furlong, stayed on to lead inside final 100 yards, won at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Aug beating Chesspiece (9-3) by nk, 6 ran.
Gregory 8-11fav (9-5) Slow into stride, wide and headway to lead over 9f out, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, chased leaders, ridden and rallied towards finish, 3rd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Continuous (9-2) at York 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Middle Earth 9-2jfav (9-3) Rear mid-division, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden and switched right to stands rail 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on strongly, won at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug beating Denmark (9-7) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Tower Of London (IRE) 4-6fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, not clear run 2f out, pushed along when rider dropped whip over 1f out, pressed winner inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 6, hd behind Castle Way (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jul.
