keen early, tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch in rear, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
held up in touch in rear, headway on outer from over 4f out to join leaders over 3f out, edged left and led over 2f out, ridden out
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, hung left and no impression on winner inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Super Duplex did well to score at Windsor and with the drop in trip no problem must be considered under a mandatory 6lb penalty. He's by Footstepsinthesand, a Guineas winner with form on ground with cut, so conditions look ideal. In contrast The Shuffler is beginning to look a top-of-the-ground horse, while consistent maiden Catchanova is a tough front-runner but is unproven under conditions and remains vulnerable late on. With that in mind our preferred trio are Lou Bear, Rodrigo De Freitas and Mountrath, with preference for the latter. All three are 10-race maidens with form on the ground; Lou Bear has gone well on both starts here while Rodrigo De Freitas should appreciate stepping back up in trip, but Mountrath hasn't had his conditions all year and is of great interest off this mark of 71, judging by a short-head second off 73 when last racing over this trip on ground with cut. He should run a big race and gets our vote.
Mountrath 9-1 (9-2) Held up, ridden 3f out, no impression, 7th of 8, 13l behind Choral Festival (9-2) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.
The Shuffler 14-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, chased winner final furlong, always well held, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Sooraah (8-13) at Sandown 1m 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul.
Super Duplex 5-1 (7-12) Keen in rear, stumbled over 5f out, good headway to lead and edged left over 1f out, ran on, won at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gd beating Sunley Spinalonga (8-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Catchanova (IRE) 4-1 (8-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Hip Hip Hooray (8-10) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Rodrigo De Freitas (IRE) 9-2fav (9-2) Held up behind, ridden halfway, kept on well inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 3l behind Mack's Sister (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Lou Bear (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Pulled hard early, chased leaders 2f out, faded, 5th of 12, 11l behind Diamond Twister (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) std.
