steadied start, took keen hold, held up in last trio, headway on inside over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, led after 1f, ridden and headed 2f out, chased leader until over 1f out, weakened final furlong
took keen hold and soon steadied rear, good headway on outside 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, soon every chance when carried left and bumped, just held
held up in last pair, good headway on outside over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, led just inside final furlong, soon hung left under pressure and bumped 2nd, held on
led 1f, tracked leader until inside final 3f, weakened over 2f out
tracked leading trio, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, went modest 4th final furlong
WESTERN HYMN (NAP) made a winning racecourse debut here back in 2013 and returns for the first time since. He has yet to win this year but his placed efforts, notably a second in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard, is the best form on offer. Berkshire struggled in testing ground at Chantilly last time but won a Listed race at Windsor earlier while Restorer is another Listed winner, though has something to prove over this longer trip on his first start since April. Stablemates Yorkidding and Kiltara are closely matched on latest running in Listed company while Hamelin finished runner-up in last year’s renewal and is preferred to Star Storm.
Berkshire (IRE) (9-2) 5th of 6, 20 1/4l behind One Foot In Heaven (9-6) at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 2 stks sft in Oct.
Hamelin (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Led 2f, tracked leaders until driven and lost place over 4f out, soon behind and eased, tailed off, last of 19, dist behind Kinema (9-4) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gs in Jun.
Restorer 40-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, short of room 10f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 11l behind Exospheric (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Apr.
Star Storm (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Held up in mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 12 1/4l behind Move Up (8-13) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Western Hymn 8-1 (9-4) Mid-division, headway when not clear run over 2f out, not clear run again over 1f out, chased leaders entering final furlong, never a threat, 5th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Duretto (9-4) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Oct.
Kiltara (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Tracked leader until ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Bess Of Hardwick (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 5f lst fll stks (1) pol in Oct.
Yorkidding 8-1 (9-4) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 12, 3 3/4l behind Bess Of Hardwick (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 5f lst fll stks (1) pol in Oct.
Hell Yeah 25-1 (10-0) Steadied start, held up in rear, good headway on inside 2f out, 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Kempton 1m 4f mdn stks (4) pol in Aug beating Every Instinct (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.