pressed leader, driven over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
steadied start, held up and behind, some late headway, never going pace to get competitive
held up and behind, switched left to outside 2f out, quickened to challenge over 1f out, ridden and ran on well to lead final 100 yards
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, soon switched left, beaten when hung left final furlong
soon pushed along towards rear, ridden halfway, headway 2f out, kept on to 3rd final 100 yards, no impression on leading duo
chased leading pair, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden halfway soon weakened
slight lead, travelling well 2f out, ridden 1f out, kept on well until headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards
Richard Fahey's Rose Blossom looks the pick of the two three-year-olds in the field for this listed race ahead of Nollaig Shona and she has to be considered having been a good winner at York earlier this month but the older horses seem to have the edge and a better bet looks to be the reappearing HIGH STANDING. William Haggas has had a mixed start to the season but he can get a horse ready and the son of High Yield has solid claims in this grade having run so well in group company in his last three starts of last term, latterly when a close up fourth in the Diamden Stakes. David Nicholls has started the campaign well and his representative, Inxile, also takes a drop in class having not been disgraced in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes recently. Eve Johnson Houghton's Judd Street is held by Inxile on running last time, while Richard Hannon's Elnawin is closely matched with the Nicholls horse on a line through Prime Defender and cannot be discounted. High Standing has an obvious chance being dropped into this grade though and he looks the one to beat.
Inxile (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Prime Defender (9-7) at York 6f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Elnawin 15-8fav (9-0) Tracked leader, led approaching 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Prime Defender (9-0) at Haydock 6f cond Stakes (2) gf.
High Standing (USA) 5-2fav (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway 2f out, driven and kept on under pressure inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 14, 3l behind Sayif (8-12) at Ascot 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Invincible Lad (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Went left start, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 10th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Hamish Mcgonagall (9-1) at York 5f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Judd Street 33-1 (9-7) Raced keenly, mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 12, 19l behind Prime Defender (9-7) at York 6f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Impressible 33-1 (9-3) Pressed leader, ridden 2f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 7l behind Prescription (9-3) at Nottingham 6f fll lst stks (1) gd.
Nollaig Shona (IRE) 10-1 (8-9) Slight lead, ridden over 1f out, headed 1f out, no impression, weakened final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Dungannon (9-0) at Bath 5f mdn auc stks (6) fm.
Rose Blossom 8-1 (8-11) Made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at York 5f con stks (2) gf beating Midnight Martini (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Group Therapy 25-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 12, 7l behind Spin Cycle (8-12) at Newmarket 5f Listed stks (1) gf in Oct.
