chased leaders, chased winner inside final 2f until inside final furlong, no impression
chased winner until inside final 2f, regained 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on
held up in mid-division, not much room 2f out, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
made all, shaken up over 1f out, kept on well
held up towards rear, driven 3f out, stayed on final 2f, not reach leaders
held up in rear, headway on inside over 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
soon in rear, ridden 3f out, no impression
held up, headway on inside over 2f out, weakened
always behind
in touch on outside, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
A softly-softly approach to the season for High Bray can pay dividends here, and he is selected ahead of Gallantry and Seulement. The David Elsworth-trained selection has had only two runs since last autumn, where he proved himself to be a progressive handicapper. Possessing the physical scope for further progress this time around, he still looks reasonably treated for this handicap. Prince Of Thebes is on the up but he has a six-pounds penalty to defy for his Ascot win, which puts him on a career-high mark. That last comment also applies to Marching Song, while you can build a case for Bayeux and Compton's Eleven from their current marks. King's Caprice is edging back towards a winning rating, as are Gallantry and Flipando and all three are respected. Seulement is becoming frustrating but we still feel he has a race of this nature in him, while you can never rule out a good run here from the course-and-distance winner Binanti. Into The Breeze has to find two or three pounds, we feel, but a repeat of Hits Only Heaven's second over six furlongs here in August could see him competitive, but Material Witness is not as good as he once was. All of which returns us to the selection, which is High Bray.
Prince Of Thebes (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, hard pressed over 1f out, driven and just held on, all out, won at Ascot 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug beating Tucker (9-10) by a shd, 9 ran.
Bayeux (USA) 10-1 (9-5) Pulled hard, bumped soon after start, always towards rear, 12th of 16, 6l behind Ordnance Row (8-8) at Chester 1m hcap (2) gd in Aug.
Compton's Eleven 4-1 (9-12) Held up, ridden headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 7, shd behind Illustrious Blue (9-4) at Goodwood 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
Marching Song 25-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, in touch, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 5l behind Belenus (9-0) at Salisbury 1m Grp 3 (1) gs in Aug.
King's Caprice 14-1 (9-11) Disputed lead, led 5f out, headed 2f out and weakened, last of 7, 6l behind Illustrious Blue (9-4) at Goodwood 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
Flipando (IRE) 10-1 (8-9) Held up in mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, 9th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Hinterland (9-3) at Sandown 1m hcap (2) gf in Jul.
Seulement (USA) 7-1 (9-3) In touch, not much room soon after start, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 6th of 16, 3l behind Ordnance Row (8-8) at Chester 1m hcap (2) gd in Aug.
Binanti 16-1 (9-3) Always behind, last of 16, 14l behind Killena Boy (8-13) at Kempton 1m hcap (2) pol.
Into The Breeze (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Bumped soon after start, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 8th of 16, 3l behind Ordnance Row (8-8) at Chester 1m hcap (2) gd in Aug.
Hits Only Heaven (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Pressed leader, led narrowly 3f out, headed 2f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 16, 1 1/2l behind Killena Boy (8-13) at Kempton 1m hcap (2) pol.
High Bray (GER) 13-2 (9-0) Held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Paper Talk (9-11) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
Gallantry 5-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 14l behind King Harson (8-11) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Material Witness (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Disputed lead, ridden to lead 2f out, headed inside final furlong and faded, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Illustrious Blue (9-4) at Goodwood 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
