tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 1f out
led, pressed from 3f out, soon headed, no extra last 100 yards
held up towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, chased winner over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
with leader, outpaced 4f out, ridden and weakened over 3f out
soon tracked leaders, soon tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on to regain lead towards finish
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, edged left and not much room inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
behind, outpaced over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, headway and hung left over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon pricked ears and headed when idled towards finish, kept on, unseated rider after winning line
Taxmeifyoucan continues to defy the handicapper and it was heavy ground when he completed a hat-trick with a recent success over course and distance. He’s not easily overlooked but comes up against the unexposed ROYAL ASSOCIATE (NAP) in this. The latter won his first couple of outings, including a handicap at Ascot, and will find this easier than last month’s task in Listed company in France. Tor is another progressive type and scored in soft ground at Musselburgh while Nordic Combined is a course and distance winner, though is upped in class today and racing from out of the weights.
Royal Associate (8-13) 7th of 10, 10 1/4l behind Darbuzan (8-13) at Deauville 1m 7f lst stks (1) gd in Aug.
Tor 5-2fav (9-7) Pulled hard early, tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 2f out, every chance over 1f out and throughout final furlong, led post, won at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp (3) sft in Sep beating Dominating (9-5) by ns, 7 ran.
Taxmeifyoucan (IRE) 16-1 (8-4) Mid-division, driven 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on to challenge and every chance inside final furlong, edged left, led towards finish, won at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (2) hvy in Sep beating Face The Facts (8-10) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Comrade Conrad (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place, weakened final furlong, 6th of 9, 13l behind Opinionate (9-0) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Uber Cool (IRE) 2-1fav (9-1) Mid-division, driven to chase clear leaders 3f out, headway and in touch over 1f out, went 3rd and kept on final furlong, not pace of winner, 3rd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Opinionate (9-0) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Orsino (IRE) 22-1 (8-0) Tracked leaders, driven over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 5th of 10, 14 3/4l behind Taxmeifyoucan (8-4) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (2) hvy in Sep.
Nordic Combined (IRE) 20-1 (8-6) Raced wide close up, pushed along 8f out, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, all out, won at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (4) sft in Sep beating Astute Boy (8-12) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
