led early, prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon edged right and lost place, well held over 1f out
held up in mid-division, headway on outside over 4f out, driven over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, stayed on
prominent, led over 4f out, headed over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, held close home
not much room and bumped start, held up in rear, headway and switched right over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, strong challenge towards finish, just held
held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, some headway over 2f out, no impression
held up, headway over 4f out, challenged over 2f out, led over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, held on well
chased leaders, lost place over 4f out, no impression after
prominent early, chased leaders, struggling over 2f out
went right start, mid-division, pushed along 3f out, soon weakened
soon led, headed over 4f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, held towards finish
dipped start, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, not able to get on terms
Iconic Knight has never won over the trip but wasn’t stopping when scoring over the minimum at Windsor and is only 4lb higher. DELAGATE THE LORD, who was a close fourth that day, has the ground in his favour and is better off at the weights so gets the nod to reverse the form and take this. Major Pusey likes plenty of give in the ground, which he had at Haydock last time, and he’s still 2lb below his last winning mark on the same track a year ago. Lady Dancealot ended last season with a course and distance victory on soft ground and though consistent this season she’s looked a few pounds high. Mullionheir won at Ascot at this time last year and looked right back to that sort of form back there last time so may prove the main danger.
Major Pusey 10-1 (8-7) Raced centre pushed along in rear, weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 12 3/4l behind Camacho Chief (8-13) at Leicester 5f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Blaine 66-1 (9-2) Always behind, last of 16, 20 3/4l behind Bernardo O'Reilly (8-9) at Ffos Las 6f hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Handytalk (IRE) 11-4 (9-2) Chased leaders, pushed along in 3rd and chance 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 5, 4 1/2l behind Desert Frost (9-9) at Epsom 6f hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Iconic Knight (IRE) 3-1jfav (9-1) Chased leaders on rail, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead as gap opened and edged left inside final furlong, final furlong, ran on well, won at Windsor 5f hcp (4) gf in Sep beating Harry Hurricane (9-9) by 1l, 9 ran.
Delagate This Lord 12-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace of leading duo, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Mountain Peak (8-13) at Ascot 5f hcp (3) gf in Sep.
Mullionheir 10-1 (9-3) Held up behind, shaken up and headway over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on inside final furlong, took 2nd final strides, no chance with winner, 2nd of 19, 2 3/4l behind Akbar Shah (9-1) at Ascot 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Lady Dancealot (IRE) 6-4fav (9-1) Dwelt, close up in rear, switched right over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never a threat, 3rd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Perfection (9-7) at Yarmouth 6f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Charming Guest (IRE) 9-2 (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 8 1/2l behind Cale Lane (9-2) at Leicester 6f hcp fll (5) gf in Sep.
Met By Moonlight 11-1 (9-13) Steadied start, always behind, 9th of 10, 14 1/2l behind Forward Thinker (9-5) at Windsor 1m hcp fll (5) gd in Aug.
Just An Idea (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 8th of 12, 6 1/2l behind Harbour Approach (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Sep.
Swanton Blue (IRE) 7-4jfav (9-7) Led, driven when challenged over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, rallied closing stages, just failed, 2nd of 7, shd behind Assassinate (9-2) at Chepstow 6f stks (6) sft in Aug.
Deeds Not Words (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Chased leaders to over 2f out, outpaced and behind over 1f out, 5th of 6, 6l behind Archie (10-7) at Brighton 7f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
