led, ridden and hung left over 2f out, soon headed, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong
held up ,in rear, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
keen, in touch, lost place over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, not troubled winner
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened 1f out
prominent, led 2f out, ridden and hung right inside final furlong, ran on
always behind
chased leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, edged left and weakened inside final furlong
Kiswahili is certainly an interesting contender here, having bolted up in maiden company at Hamilton last year. However, she has been off the course for a year, and a mark of 90 looks a shade harsh for her handicap debut, so she is probably worth opposing here. We do so with Perle D'Or, although good claims can be given to a number of others, including Dance Partner, Tanzanite and Montecito. Dance Partner has won her last three races and is unbeaten in handicap company. However, although she clearly has plenty of scope John Gosden's filly didn't beat a great deal at Yarmouth last time and will find this company a good deal tougher. Desert Crystal returned to form at Newmarket last time but had the run of the race that day, with an uncontested lead, and is likely to find this harder under top weight. Tanzanite followed a good win over a mile here with a decent second at Sandown, and is effective over this trip so has to come into the reckoning, as does another three-year-old, Montecito, who was also a course winner over twelve furlongs earlier in the season and ran well when second at Sandown over this trip on her latest start. But for the selection we just prefer the Willie Haggas-trained Perle D'Or. This lightly-raced four-year-old won three times last year and got off the mark straight away in a Classified Stakes at Windsor this year. She won a very competitive handicap, again over this trip, at Doncaster and then shaped well enough in a Listed race at Yarmouth behind the smart La Persiana. Perle D'Or should find this company more to her liking, and with underfoot conditions that she clearly relishes, she gets our vote.
Desert Cristal (IRE) 28-1 (9-0) Always prominent, led over 7f out, headed 3f out, hung right over 2f out, led again over 1f out, ridden out, won at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Aug beating Boundless Prospect (8-10) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Kiswahili 2-5fav (8-9) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, easily, won at Hamilton 1m 2yo mdn aut (E3) sft beating Aire de Mougins (9-0) by 9l, 8 ran.
Perle d'Or (IRE) 8-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, not trouble leaders, 5th of 11, 6l behind La Persiana (9-7) at Yarmouth 1m 2f lst fll hcp (1) gd in Aug.
Mystery Lot (IRE) 11-4fav (8-12) Made most, ridden and headed 2f out, soon no chance with winner, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Natalie Jane (9-3) at Salisbury 1m 2f fll hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Dance Partner 7-4fav (9-6) Tracked leader going well, shaken up 2f out, led over 1f out, pushed out final furlong, readily, won at Folkestone 1m 2f fll hcp (3) gf in Aug beating Uig (9-8) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Lysandra (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden and not clear run over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 9th of 19, 7l behind Perle d'Or (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Jul.
Tanzanite (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) In touch and keen, headway to chase leaders 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Oonagh Maccool (8-6) at Sandown 1m 3yo fll hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Bon Bon 7-1 (8-3) Mid-division, effort and outpaced over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, 7th of 11, 3l behind Desert Cristal (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Dispol Foxtrot 11-1 (8-8) Never better than mid-division, 8th of 17, 12l behind Bailieborough (8-11) at Pontefract 1m hcp (5) gs.
Prelude 8-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden and effort 1f out, always held, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Serramanna (8-6) at Warwick 1m 3f hcp (6) gd.
Montecito 33-1 (7-13) Held up, switched approaching 2f out, stayed on to press leaders final furlong, kept on to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Pagan Sky (9-1) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Aug.
