held up, effort, hung right over 1f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong
in touch, ridden 2f out, no impression
keen early, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, led 1f out, headed narrowly inside final furlong, no extra final 50 yards
held up, headway 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on final furlong
held up, short lived effort 2f out, eased final furlong
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well to assert final 50 yards
led, ridden 2f out, soon edged left, headed 1f out, weakened
Polar Ben can gain another course-and-distance victory, with Quito, Stronghold and Jedburgh all out to stop him. Polar Ben has collected two Group 3 contests in the past, goes well here, and likes to get his toe in, so hopes are high that he can gain revenge over Quito who beat him in a Listed race at Haydock at the start of the month. He was beaten on merit that day, but the ground may even have been too deep for him, and he was a bit too keen to boot. Noted finishing well behind Sleeping Indian at Newbury last time, a return to the winner's enclosure beckons for James Fanshawe's charge. Mind you, old Quito just does not know how to run a bad race, and will no doubt be coming there at the finish again, so looks a banker for the frame at least. Stronghold has been off since failing to deliver in Group 3 company at Lingfield in the summer, but that was his first run on the Polytrack, and the Royal Hunt Cup second is capable of better back on Turf. Jedburgh has it to do with the selection on Newbury running, but chased home Ifraaj in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes over track-and-trip the time before, so is dangerous to rule out entirely. Byron has a long, long absence to overcome, and all in all we much prefer the claims of Polar Ben.
Jedburgh 18-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, held up rear, ridden 2f out, outpaced from over 1f out, never dangerous, 10th of 13, 6l behind Sleeping Indian (9-2) at Newbury 7f lst stk (1) gd.
King Jock (USA) 20-1 (9-2) Slowly away, in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Iffraaj (9-6) at York 7f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Babodana 14-1 (9-4) always rear, last of 15, 23l behind Binary File (9-4) at Ovrevoll 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) sft in Aug.
Byron 7-1 (9-4) Mid-division, outpaced when not much room over 2f out, ran on final furlong, not reach leaders, 6th of 15, 6l behind Cape Of Good Hope (9-4) at York 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun '05.
Polar Ben 20-1 (9-2) Settled towards rear, not much room over 1f out, switched and stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 13, 3/4l behind Sleeping Indian (9-2) at Newbury 7f lst stk (1) gd.
Quito (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Held up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 5l behind Iffraaj (9-6) at York 7f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Stronghold 7-4fav (9-1) Close up on inner, ridden and badly outpaced 2f out, kept on one pace when not clear run on inner briefly over 1f out, stayed on, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Echo of Light (9-1) at Lingfield 1m Grp 3 (1) pol in Jul.
Daniella 25-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, behind, ridden over 2f out, headway and not clear run over 1f out, soon switched left, ran on, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Ripples Maid (8-12) at Chester 6f lst fll stk (1) gf.
