led, headed 2f out, ridden ove 1f out, soon weakened
held up in rear and keen, headway over 1f out, kept on well to take 2nd place close home, no chance with winner
dwelt, in rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, headway over 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, until no extra close home
close up, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd over 2f out, led 2f out, soon headed, weakened and lost 2 places towards finish
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, quickened clear, ran on strongly, readily
This is a proper teaser with a couple of unexposed three-year-olds taking on established stayers. SHWAIMAN was beaten two lengths by Retirement Plan in a maiden over 1m4f here in June. The winner went on to land a Class 3 handicap at Goodwood off a mark of 88 so James Fanshawe's colt looks well treated here off 82 and can get off the mark upped in distance. Portmonarch was third over the trip at Sandown last month but is arguably better on Polytrack while the handicapper may have caught with hat-trick seekers Porcini and Brigadore. This looks too tough for Ffos Las scorer Eshtyaaq but it would be no surprise to see Gabrial's King bounce back to form and he makes more appeal than Yarmouth winner Bridgehampton and the disappointing Montaff and Valid Reason.
Porcini 3-1 (9-7) Led 1f, led chasing group after, took closer order over 3f out, led over 2f out, hard ridden over 1f out, kept on well, won at Sandown 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul beating Into The Wind (8-6) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Brigadoon Evensfav (10-0) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon quickened clear, won at Beverley 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul beating Strike Force (8-11) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Montaff 16-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 7l behind Eshtyaaq (8-7) at Ffos Las 2m hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Bridgehampton 6-4 (9-11) Tracked leader, driven to lead over 2f out, strongly challenged entering final furlong, all out, just held on, won at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gf beating Khotan (8-12) by ns, 3 ran.
Valid Reason 16-1 (9-0) Led, stayed towards stands' side and headed 7f out, weakened 4f out, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Miss Dashwood (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Eshtyaaq 16-1 (8-7) Held up towards rear, pulled hard, headway to join leader over 10f out, led 8f out, kept on well over 1f out, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp 0-80 (4) gd beating Presto Volante (9-7) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Shwaiman (IRE) 7-4fav (8-13) Tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along in 3rd on wide outside over 3f out, driven to challenge over 1f out, hung right and not look keen inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Astonishing (8-8) at Kempton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Jul.
Gabrial's King (IRE) 9-2 (9-6) Held up towards rear, stayed on from over 1f out, no impression, 6th of 11, 9l behind Eshtyaaq (8-7) at Ffos Las 2m hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Portmonarch (IRE) 9-2 (9-6) Held up in last pair, ridden over 2f out, headway on outside over 1f out, driven and hung right inside final furlong, stayed on to 3rd final 110 yards, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Debdebdeb (9-4) at Sandown 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul.
