led, strongly challenged entering final furlong, hard ridden, headed closing stages, no extra
in touch, headway over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong, led post
held up in last pair, headway on inside over 1f out, never on terms
tracked leader, ridden to challenge 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up in last pair, always behind
took keen hold tracking leader, switched left to challenge over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, all out, headed post
LIGHTNING SPEAR ran out the winner of this race 12 months ago and he put in his best effort since when beaten 1L on soft ground here last time out. The selection seems to save his best for this course and is taken to get the better of Hathal who drops back to this trip having finished a decent third over further last time out. Last years runner-up Zonderland can claim third on his return to this track.
Hathal (USA) 4-1 (9-3) Held up, headway over 1f out, switched right and went 3rd inside final furlong, stayed on, unable to challenge, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Success Days (9-3) at York 1m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Jul.
Lightning Spear 8-1 (9-8) Tracked leading pair, ridden and went 2nd 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Here Comes When (9-8) at Goodwood 1m Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Aug.
Oh This Is Us (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Took keen hold, always towards rear, never involved, 11th of 13, 5 1/4l behind Breton Rock (9-3) at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Opal Tiara (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders on rail, outpaced over 2f out, weakened when slightly hampered entering final 2f, last of 7, 8 1/4l behind Roly Poly (8-12) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gf in Jul.
Richard Pankhurst 8-1 (9-3) Raced centre held up, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 20 1/2l behind Home Of The Brave (9-3) at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Jul.
Zonderland 11-4 (8-12) Went slightly left start, tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Lightning Spear (9-4) at Goodwood 1m Grp 2 (1) gf in Aug.