steadied start, keen tracked leaders, dropped to rear halfway, headway over 1f out, led on bit inside final furlong, comfortable
tracked leader until 10f out, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace
very slowly away, soon recovered and close up, went 2nd 10f out, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
set steady pace until headed halfway, tracked leader, ridden to lead again 2f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, kept on
steadied start, keen held up in touch in rear, headway to lead halfway, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
DISTANT CHIMES can continue to defy the handicapper. He completed a hat-trick when upped to 1m6f at Wolverhampton and this longer trip will likely bring further improvement from Sir Mark Prescott’s charge. General Zoff went close at Lingfield when last competing over 2m and is preferred to Toshima, who won over today’s trip at Ffos Las before a poor effort at Newmarket. Highland Sky has a bit to prove over this far and is upped in class while Baydar has his first outing after wind surgery having failed to win since 2016.
Distant Chimes (GER) 8-15fav (9-12) Keen tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, idled close home, won at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Aug beating Houlton (9-8) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Toshima (IRE) 14-1 (9-10) Tracked leading pair until 5f out, chased leaders, weakened inside final 2f, 6th of 7, 11 3/4l behind Graceful Lady (9-2) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Baydar 15-2 (9-2) Slowly into stride, pushed along and headway to chase leaders after 1f, went 2nd 10f out, every chance 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 10 1/4l behind Seinesational (9-4) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp (4) gs in Jun.
General Zoff 11-2 (8-13) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, edged left and no extra final furlong, 4th of 6, 1 1/4l behind Darksideoftarnside (9-9) at Ffos Las 1m 6f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Highland Sky (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) Close up in 4th, ridden over 2f out, effort approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 4, 5 1/2l behind Road To Paris (8-3) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp (5) gf in Aug.