always prominent, disputing lead and every chance inside final furlong, ran on but not pace of winner final 110 yards
towards rear far side of group, never dangerous
held up in centre to near side, headway halfway, some late minor headway, never dangerous
towards rear in centre, pushed along over 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, led final 110 yards
chased leader in centre, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
raced towards near side, outpaced
slowly into stride, raced near side, raced keenly, headway chasing leaders halfway, ridden and weakened inside final 2f
chased leaders in centre, ridden over 2f out, weakened soon after
off the pace near side, never on terms
mid-division in centre, headway chasing leaders 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on late, never going pace to threaten
mid-division in centre, headway chasing leaders 2f out, ran on well towards finish, not reach winner
wore hood to post, led group on near side, ridden 2f out, weakened soon after
chased leaders in centre, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed and no extra final 110 yards
overall leader in centre, narrowly headed approaching final furlong, stilled every chance inside final furlong, no extra final 110 yards
mid-division far side of group, headway chasing leaders 2f out, ridden and weakened final furlong
outpaced
towards rear far side of group, headway chasing leaders over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
Air Raid beat Lincoln Park when winning this last year and another bold bid looks likely racing off the same mark today. The progressive Russco has a further hike in the weights to contend bidding for a six-timer after winning at Chepstow while Cold Stare arrives in good form having won at Ayr last week. Raatea and Chairmanoftheboard drop down a grade having both gone close last time but THALER gets another chance returning to his winning trip on only his second start handicapping.
Air Raid 40-1 (9-1) Led, headed over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, soon edged right, stayed on, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 21, 1 1/4l behind Volatile Analyst (9-2) at York 6f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Cold Stare (IRE) 4-1 (9-13) Held up, headway 2f out travelling strongly, ridden to challenge 1f out, took lead inside final furlong, won going away, won at Ayr 6f hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Big Les (9-7) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Raatea 7-1 (9-0) Dwelt towards rear, headway when not clear run over 1f out, ridden and ran on, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Able Kane (8-11) at Doncaster 7f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Chairmanoftheboard (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Held up off the pace in last pair, switched left and good headway between horses over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, finished fast, just failed, 2nd of 10, shd behind Nomadic Empire (9-8) at York 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Bergerac (IRE) 18-1 (9-6) Chased leaders far side, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out, 14th of 24, 10 1/4l behind Staxton (9-6) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Thaler 10-11fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, led and edged right over 1f out, driven inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Diocles Of Rome (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Beyond Equal 22-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear near side of group, headway chasing leaders halfway, weakened final 100 yards, 7th of 16, 2 1/4l behind Hurricane Ivor (9-10) at Doncaster 6f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Paws For Thought (IRE) 7-2 (9-9) Ponied to start, raced wide in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on, 4th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Gabrial The Devil (9-7) at Chester 6f hcp (3) gs in Sep.
Lincoln Park 11-1 (9-7) Raced keenly, prominent, pushed along 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Muntadab (9-4) at Chester 7f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Call Me Ginger 6-1 (8-6) Held up and off the pace in last trio, never on terms, 6th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Boundless Power (8-10) at Ascot 5f hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Woven 16-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 17, 21 1/2l behind Sunray Major (9-12) at Ascot 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Russco (IRE) 2-1fav (9-7) Prominent, led 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, pushed out inside last, comfortably, won at Chepstow 6f hcp (4) sft in Sep beating Sir Maxi (9-7) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Rebel At Dawn (IRE) 12-1 (8-4) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Boundless Power (8-10) at Ascot 5f hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Be Proud (IRE) 7-1 (8-4) Chased leaders near side of group, pushed along halfway, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to threaten, 5th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Boundless Power (8-10) at Ascot 5f hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Never Dark 10-3fav (9-7) Made virtually all, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, won going away, won at Musselburgh 5f hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Ventura Flame (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Golden Apollo 17-2 (8-9) Towards rear, ridden halfway, never on terms, 7th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Justanotherbottle (9-8) at Ripon 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Manigordo (USA) 9-1 (8-5) Towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 3l behind Justanotherbottle (9-8) at Ripon 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
