took keen hold, in touch, weakened over 2f out
close up on outside, pushed along in close 3rd from 4f out, ridden to press winner and every chance from 2f out, stayed battling away under pressure, no extra and held towards finish
took keen hold, close up, pushed along when not clear run briefly 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, took 3rd final 50 yards, not quite pace to reach leading duo
held up in 6th, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened
tracked leading pair to 4f out, soon driven along, plugged on under pressure final 2f
led, joined 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, stayed chasing leading pair under pressure, held when lost 3rd final 50 yards
heald up in rear, plugged on under pressure final 2f, no chance
soon tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and pressed when edged right over 1f out, stayed on and on top towards finish
held up towards rear, no chance final 2f, eased tailed off
There is little to choose between Sir Michael Stoute's Main Aim and Doncaster Rover on running behind Prime Defender in the Duke Of York Stakes but the Newmarket runner should confirm the form from running that day but may again have to settle for minor honours behind LORD SHANAKILL. Henry Cecil's colt lost no caste in defeat behind the improved Paco Boy in the Lockinge a fortnight ago and he can resume winning ways dropped down into a group 3 race today. Andrew Balding's Dream Eater disappointed when last seen at Ascot in September but he had run well prior to that, including when winning a listed race at York, and has to be considered on his reappearance. Lovelace has come back to form for his new trainer David Nicholls but this is tougher than the races that he has won in his last two outings, while Richard Fahey's Dream Lodge is strictly held by Lovelace on running last time. Main Aim is entitled to come on for his reappearance run and has to be respected for the in-form Sir Michael Stoute stable but few yards are in better form than Henry Cecil's at present and Lord Shanakill can give him another winner.
Autumn Blades (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Keen early, held up, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd post, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Brae Hill (8-13) at Chester 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Doncaster Rover (USA) 14-1 (9-7) Behind, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure on outside over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 12, 3/4l behind Prime Defender (9-7) at York 6f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Dream Eater (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway 2f out, driven and kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to challenge, 8th of 14, 4l behind Sayif (8-12) at Ascot 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Dream Lodge (IRE) 7-4 (9-9) Tracked leader 2f, stayed in 3rd, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, narrowly headed final 110 yards, rallied gamely near finish, just failed, 2nd of 5, ns behind Lovelace (9-5) at Newcastle 1m cond Stakes (3) gf in Apr.
Georgebernardshaw (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Steadied start, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, soon not much room when tried to swich right, kept on well inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 5l behind Lovelace (9-7) at Haydock 7f Listed stks (1) gf.
Lord Shanakill (USA) 9-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, led 2f out, soon strongly pressed, ridden and kept narrow advantage until headed 1f out, kept on but outpaced by leading duo inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Paco Boy (9-0) at Newbury 1m Grp 1 (1) gf.
Lovelace 3-1 (9-7) Held up in touch in 4th, quicken to lead over 1f out, soon edged badly left, ridden inside final furlong, held on towards finish, won at Haydock 7f Listed stks (1) gf beating Mia's Boy (9-7) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Main Aim 5-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, driven over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, not reach leading pair, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Prime Defender (9-7) at York 6f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Mia's Boy 7-4fav (9-7) Soon in rear and niggled along, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on well towards finish, not reached winner, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Lovelace (9-7) at Haydock 7f Listed stks (1) gf.
