led, joined 2f out, soon headed, no chance with winner, clear 2nd
took keen hold tracking leading pair, went 2nd entering final 3f, challeged going well 2f out, soon led, ridden and clear when hung left over 1f out, ridden out
held up in last pair, headway to 3rd over 2f out, no impression
held up in rear, pushed along on outside 3f out, headway over 1f out, went 4th final furlong
tracked leaders in 4th, not quicken 2f out, weakened final furlong
soon tracking leader, pushed along 3f out, soon lost 2nd, head high and weakened over 2f out
held up in last trio, weakened over 2f out
POETIC VERSE could only manage fourth in a handicap over track and trip last time but that reads well enough in this lesser grade. She gets the vote ahead of Checkpoint as the latter has shown his best form over the shorter trip of a mile so far. Run It Twice is another with plenty to prove over this longer distance and while Knight's Parade will have no problem with the distance, he looks up against it at the weights. The remainder are hard to fancy on these terms.
Knight's Parade (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Towards rear, never a factor, 9th of 12, 16l behind Sweet Deal (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sep.
Checkpoint 8-1 (9-9) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, led well over 1f out, headed close home, 2nd of 11, hd behind Havelovewilltravel (9-0) at Kempton 1m mdn auc stks (5) pol in Sep.
Poetic Verse 16-1 (8-13) In rear, headway over 2f out, one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 6l behind Tajheez (9-7) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Run It Twice (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, outpaced, last of 8, 20l behind Blazing Knight (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Sep.
Zaminate 33-1 (8-13) Chased leader until 11f out, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f, 8th of 12, 9l behind Grayswood (9-0) at Bath 1m 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Sep.
Bell'arte (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Steadied start held up in rear, ridden 3f out, late headway approaching final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 7, 12l behind Uganda Glory (9-7) at Brighton 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Sep.
Valley Dreamer 100-1 (8-8) Held up, always towards rear, 10th of 13, 18l behind Dancing Cosmos (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Sep.