held up in rear, ridden on outside over 2f out, no headway
held up in mid-division, good headway on outside 3f out, led 2f out, kept on under hand riding until headed over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
held up last, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
always rear division
chased leaders in 3rd, hard ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, led going well over 3f out, headed 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders in 4th, driven along 4f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in rear, smooth headway on outside over 2f out, ridden to challenge and hung right over 1f out, carried head high and no extra inside final furlong
led, pushed along 6f out, ridden and narrowly headed 3f out, rallied gamely to regain lead over 1f out, stayed on well
held up in rear, headway on outside 4f out, soon ridden, weakened inside final 3f
in touch, effort over 4f out, soon driven along and weakened 3f out, tailed off
mid-division, pushed along, weakened 4f out
in touch, driven along, one pace final 2f
in touch, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
in touch, pushed along 4f out, headway on inside, driven to chase leaders over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
keen hold in touch, ridden 4f out, steadily lost place
Noble Minstrel is a sporting choice to get the better of his old rival Full House, while Whispering Death, Som Tala and Esprit de Corps also merit respect. Esprit de Corps follows a tried and trusted path in switching from Sir Mark Prescott to Phillip Hobbs - and it was business as usual when he got off the mark for the yard at Newton Abbot in June. Obviously this is a much different task, but the Hernando gelding is relatively unexposed and, as Hobbs has made a habit of walking away with Flat race prize-money, the five-year-old should not be underestimated. Som Tala is consistency personified - as his record of at least making the frame in 50% of his previous starts testifies. He again has each-way claims on these terms and can give his supporters a good run for their money. Whispering Death has not had the rub of the green in his last few outings but possesses plenty of ability. His sixth in last year's Cesarewitch reads well and he can go close at a fair price. Full House is sure to be popular after his wins here and at Royal Ascot. Paul Webber's charge is a doughty stayer and, even under top weight, will be a formidable opponent. However, Noble Minstrel makes plenty of appeal in the search for value and, as the handicapper appears to have given him a live chance on the pick of his form, Stuart Williams' charge, with the ground sure to suit, gets our vote in the opener
Full House (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Held up in mid-division, headway from over 3f out, chased leaders straight, led 2f out, strongly pressed final furlong, stayed on gamely, won at Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Jun beating Juniper Girl (9-1) by 1/2l, 20 ran.
Afrad (FR) 50-1 (9-5) Keen hold, raced wide, held up in rear, headway on wide outside 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 20, 6l behind Full House (9-1) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Jun.
Som Tala 15-2 (8-12) Held up in rear division, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on to chase winner 1f out, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 20, 1/2l behind Full House (9-1) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Jun.
Whispering Death 11-2 (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Junior (9-2) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Jul.
Great As Gold (IRE) 11-4 (9-7) Held up, ridden along over 3f out, driven over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Thewhirlingdervish (9-6) at Beverley 2m hcap (4) hvy in Jul.
Doctor Scott 6-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Inchnadamph (9-11) at Catterick 2m hcap (4) gf in Jul.
Kayf Aramis 7-2 (9-5) Held up, headway over 6f out, ridden along 3f out, not much room over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 7l behind Gallileo Figaro (9-1) at York 2m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) hvy in Jul.
Esprit de Corps 2-1fav (9-12) Held up, smooth headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on strongly, won at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Oct beating Kayf Aramis (9-10) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Secret Ploy 4-1 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed over 3f out, kept on, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Winged d'Argent (11-5) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcap (4) sft in Jul.
Noble Minstrel 9-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, chased leader 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Market Forces (8-10) at Newmarket 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
Nero West (FR) 7-2 (8-13) Soon chasing clear leader, closed over 9f, led 7f out, clear 6f out, ridden 2f out, in command inside final furlong, won at Chester 2m hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Jul beating York Cliff (8-6) by 2l, 8 ran.
Commemoration Day (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway 1f out, ran on well final furlong, led close home, won at Goodwood 2m hcap (5) gd in Jun beating Ganymede (8-9) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Bauhaus (IRE) 7-1 (8-6) Chased leaders in 4th, pushed on early straight, outpaced over 2f out, no chance after, last of 6, 3 1/2l behind Ti Adora (8-12) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun '06.
Screenplay 5-2 (8-8) Tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, lost 2nd entering final furlong, no extra, 4th of 5, 5l behind Olimpo (9-4) at Sandown 1m 6f hcap (4) gd in Jul.
Noddies Way 9-2 (8-12) Mid-division, lost place 4f out, ridden 3f out, stayed on well from over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, went 3rd near finish, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Mister Completely (9-5) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.
Pocket Too 9-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Global Traffic (10-1) at Chepstow 1m 4f amt hcp (6) hvy in Jul.
My Immortal 11-2 (7-12) Chased leader, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 12, 15l behind Sendintank (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (2) gs in Sept '05.
