led, brought field to near side in straight, ridden over 1f out, headed final 100 yards, kept on, lost 2nd towards finish
held up in last pair, headway in centre and hung right over 2f out, driven into 2nd over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on into 2nd near finish but not pace of winner
tracked leader until 5f out, 2nd again over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
took keen hold, tracked leading pair, 2nd 5f out until pushed along over 2f out, weakened soon after
tracked leaders, effort between horses over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in last pair, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, not clear run over 2f out until inside final 2f, stayed on into 3rd over 1f out, quickened between horses to lead last 100 yards, shade comfortably
Nonrunner
Notarised was never travelling when finishing well beaten at Haydock last time but Joe Fanning still prefers the top weight to stablemate Sennockian Star, who has his stamina to prove over this trip. Easy ground would be a concern for supporters of Chelmsford winner Castle Combe while First Mohican hasn't raced since his fifth at Doncaster in March. ALCAEUS has an even longer absence to overcome but goes well fresh and has won six of his 11 career starts. Most of those victories have come on fast going but he has won on good to soft and may be a bit better than a mark of 96 suggests. Scrutinise has done nothing wrong this year and is probably still progressing so can't be ignored.
Notarised 8-1 (9-8) Close up, lost place 10f out, not a factor after, 12th of 16, 10 3/4l behind Nakeeta (8-4) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
First Mohican 14-1 (9-0) Pressed leader, driven and lost place over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, no impression, 5th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Windshear (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 4f stks (2) gs in Mar.
Sennockian Star 11-1 (9-5) Prominent, soon 2nd, on terms after 4f, headed straight, slightly impeded from over 2f out, still every chance 1f out where switched right, one pace inside final furlong, 8th of 21, 2 1/4l behind Torcedor (8-12) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp gd in Sep.
Alcaeus 11-4fav (10-0) Last to break, held up in rear, headway on outside 2f out, ridden to challenge and rider dropped rein over 1f out, every chance and bumped inside final furlong, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 8, hd behind Hassle (9-9) at Ascot 1m 6f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Castle Combe (IRE) 4-1fav (10-0) Held up in rear of the pace, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Sep beating Devon Drum (9-3) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Rydan (IRE) 20-1 (9-8) Behind, outpaced over 2f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 5th of 13, 3 3/4l behind Field Of Fame (9-6) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Scrutinise 5-1 (8-13) Held up behind, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, ran on well, won at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp (4) gs in Sep beating Scrapper Smith (9-6) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Steppe Daughter (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway and switched left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Sharp Sailor (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
