made all, set steady pace, quickened pace over over 2f out, pushed out final furlong, readily
in touch in rear, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
close up, ridden over 2f out, no impression
dwelt, soon tracked winner, effort over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
ARDOUR looks nicely handicapped ahead of his nursery bow and gets our vote to score. Richard Hannon's Danehill Dancer colt finished within a length of Face The Problem on debut and the latter looks a Group horse, a point enhanced by his rating of 108. Off 83 Ardour looks thrown-in if we trust that form to be accurate and while he wasn't overly impressive at Salisbury the horse wasn't given a hard time, so we're confident he can prove up to this task. Should he fail, Arabian Star looks likely to benefit most. He's exposed but the nursery this colt took last time appeared strong and that's been backed up since by the win of the fourth-placed horse. Tokum is well-weighted on his second run but ran poorly last time and needs to improve for handicapping while High On The Hog should do better for trying a seventh furlong, as may Barista who flew home at York on Tuesday.
Ardour (IRE) 4-9fav (9-3) Led 2f, pressed leader, led again over 2f out, hard pressed 1f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, won at Salisbury 6f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Jul beating Codemaster (9-3) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Arabian Star (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) In rear, headway towards far side inside final 2f, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, driven out, won at Newbury 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf beating Nothing To Hide (9-5) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Tokum (IRE) 11-4 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 5th of 8, 10l behind Polar Kite (9-3) at York 7f 2yo mdn (3) gf in Jul.
High On The Hog (IRE) 13-8fav (9-3) Keen, chased leader, led over 4f out, came towards stands side over 3f out, pushed along and headed 2f out, driven over 1f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 4l behind Miss Moneypenni (8-12) at Brighton 6f 2yo mdn aut (6) gd in Jul.
Honourable Knight (IRE) 5-2fav (8-10) Dwelt, in rear, pushed along halfway, weakened 2f out, last of 8, well behind Buzz Law (7-12) at Newmarket 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Barista (IRE) 14-1 (8-0) In rear, pushed along over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, switched left and ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 15, 5l behind Puddle Duck (8-8) at York 6f 2yo hcp (2) gd.
