ridden to lead after 1f, quicken 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
held up, ridden and headway approaching 2f out, soon one pace
slowly into stride, raced in last place, ridden and headway over 1f out, hung right final furlong, kept on to take 2nd towards finish
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon edged right, ran on
led 1f, remained close up, ridden 3f out, chased winner 1f out, lost 2nd towards finish
held up towards rear, ridden and headway 2f out, soon one pace
always in rear, pushed along halfway, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
This is quite a hot contest, but CONFRONT is taken to come out on top; Sharp Nephew and Docofthebay are also respected. The selection is eased in grade after finishing in mid-division in a Group 3 contest last time out. He was making his seasonal reappearance in that race and he looked in need of the run, so he should be up to the task of getting his head in front today now that he has race fitness on his side. Sharp Nephew won a Listed contest at Lingfield when last seen out in April and he remains open to plenty of improvement. He will need to improve to win this, but that is certainly not beyond him. Docofthebay disappointed in a Group 2 contest last time and the simple fact is that he tends to run his best races in big fields. Re Barolo will be suited by the drop in trip, but Confront should be hard to beat and he is a confident choice.
Dream Lodge (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Reminders soon after start, never going well, weakened over 2f out, last of 14, 27l behind Furnace (8-1) at Chester 1m hcap (2) gf in Aug.
Re Barolo (IRE) 22-1 (9-2) Always behind, 14th of 16, 16l behind Ask The Butler (8-11) at Sandown 1m 2f hcap (2) gd in Aug.
Docofthebay (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Slowly away, held up in rear, ridden and beaten 3f out, last of 5, 12l behind Raven's Pass (8-9) at Goodwood 1m Grp 2 (1) gs in Aug.
Eddie Jock (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Led to over 1f out, stayed on when headed, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Oracle West (9-6) at Nad Al Sheba 1m 1f hcp gd in Feb.
Jack Junior (USA) 14-1 (9-4) Stall malfunction and slowly away, soon detached, headway from well over 1f out, never nearer, 5th of 9, 10l behind Royal Power (9-1) at Great Leighs 1m stk (3) pol in Aug.
Confront 11-8fav (9-0) Chased leaders in 4th, pushed along 3f out, soon outpaced, 5th of 8, 9l behind Paco Boy (9-0) at Newbury 7f 3yo Grp 3 (1) sft in Apr.
Fly Time 25-1 (8-9) Always towards rear, 6th of 7, 11l behind Luloah (8-6) at Hamilton 5f clm (6) gf in Jun.
Whitcombe Minister (USA) 10-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, not much room just inside final 2f, weakened final furlong, last of 7, 6l behind Generous Thought (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 3yo stk (2) gs in Jul.
Sharp Nephew 5-2 (9-0) Steadied start, held up in touch, driven along over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m 3yo lst stk (1) pol in Apr beating Orientalist Art (9-0) by a nk, 8 ran.
Fragrancy (IRE) 11-4 (8-6) Gradually taken to far side and led that pair, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 5, 8l behind Dijeerr (8-9) at Newmarket 1m stk (2) gd in Aug.
