prominent, smooth headway to lead over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, driven out final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, chased winner from over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up, ridden over 4f out, kept on one pace final furlong
led, ridden, headed over 3f out, soon weakened
No prizes for originality here but if Old Romney is not good enough to win this then it will be very surprising, and he gets the nod ahead of Princeton and Chookie Hamilton. The selection produced the best form on offer here when landing a Sandown maiden last time out in similar conditions and the step up to a mile here should pose no problems for him. He has been given almost three weeks to recover from those exertions and can follow up now. Princeton is the only other previous winner in the field, achieving the feat in a modest Wolverhampton maiden last month. Subsequent handicap runs have not been bad by any means and Mick Channon's colt looks the only realistic challenger to the selection. Chookie Hamilton makes most appeal of the others, coming from an in form yard who do well here, but he'd have to find around a stone to prevail and we prefer Old Romney to make it two from three.
Old Romney 2-5fav (9-3) Made all, shaken up 2f out, stayed on strongly, readlily, won at Sandown 7f 2yo mdn (5) gf in Jul beating Colonel Flay (9-3) by 2l, 10 ran.
Princeton (IRE) 13-2 (9-7) Took keen hold, tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, no extra and weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Cesc (8-6) at Newbury 7f 2yo hcp (4) gf.
Chookie Hamilton 50-1 (9-3) Held up, outpaced 3f out, soon ridden and no impression, 4th of 5, 4 1/2l behind Valbenny (8-12) at Ayr 7f 2yo mdn (4) frm in Jul.
Danni di Guerra (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) Bumped start, soon chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 9l behind Hill of Lujain (8-10) at Hamilton 5f 2yo mdn aut (5) gd in May.
Greek God 16-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 11l behind White Deer (9-3) at Epsom 7f 2yo mdn (5) gf.
Cinaman (IRE) Key Of Luck colt, half-brother to numerous winners up to 1m3f including the Group 3 winner Miss Universal.