chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened approaching final furlong
chased winner, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
made most, ran wide bend into straight 2f out, soon hung badly right, driven and ran on
mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, ran on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
prominent, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
always in rear
held up, ridden 2f out, stayed on never nearer
keen, raced wide, held up, ridden over 2f out, ran on towards finish, not reached leaders
close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
switched left soon after start, always in rear
in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
WHISTLE BLOWER is given the vote to follow up his Brighton success, chiefly at the main expense of Highland Quaich and Mirabella. John Gosden's Exceed And Excel colt showed improved form when winning on his handicap bow at Brighton last time. He is unexposed at this trip, and a 7lb rise in the weights may not be enough to stop him winning again. Brave Ghurka and Mirabella are potential improvers now moving into nursery grade, Be A Devil may be more at home now dropped back in trip, whilst Highland Quaich showed a good attitude to win at Kempton last time out but possibly needs to improve to defy this mark of 75. Top-weight Ice Cool Lady has been given a two month break since just an average effort at Yarmouth, whilst Pictures and Memory And Magic both shaped with more promise on their nursery debuts last time out. A very tricky puzzle to solve, however we hope that the answer lies with Whistle Blower.
Ice Cool Lady (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) Chased leaders, hard ridden 2f out, weakened final 1f, 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Baby Judge (7-9) at Yarmouth 7f 2yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Sep.
Highland Quaich 5-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 1f out, ran on to lead post, won at Kempton 7f 2yo mdn auc stks (6) pol in Oct beating Point Out (9-3) by ns, 14 ran.
Pictures (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) In touch, ridden to press winner 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Scottish Boogie (9-2) at Yarmouth 7f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Mirabella (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Led, ridden 2f out, edged right inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Padmini (9-0) at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn fll (5) pol in Oct.
Be A Devil 5-1 (9-2) Prominent when badly hampered well over 7f out, soon rear, ridden 4f out, well beaten over 2f out, eased over 1f out, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Nafura (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Whistle Blower 4-1fav (8-10) Went left start, close up, always travelling well, challenged over 1f out, led entering final 1f, ran on well, won at Brighton 7f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct beating Transfixed (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Memory And Magic (USA) 9-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, pushed along and unable to quicken 2f out, stayed on same pace after, 4th of 10, 5l behind Green Earth (9-0) at Warwick 7f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Sep.
Orsett Lad (USA) 16-1 (9-5) Chased leader, ridden and every chance over 2f out, eased over 1f out, virtually pulled up final furlong, 12th of 13, 28l behind Boquito (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2yo hco 0-75 (6) pol in Sep.
Edward Whymper 4-1fav (8-12) Chased leader, driven along over 3f out, not quicken inside final furlong, lost 2nd well inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Christopher Wren (9-2) at Windsor 1m 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Oct.
Posy Fossil (USA) 9-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, pushed along to track leaders, ridden inside final furlong, no extra, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Desert Poppy (9-0) at Kempton 5f 2yo mdn fll (5) pol in Oct.
Lofthouse 33-1 (8-10) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, kept on final furlong, no extra towards finish, 6th of 13, 2 3/4l behind Shark Man (8-11) at Kempton 7f 2yo clm stks (6) pol in Oct.
Crushing (IRE) 3-1fav (9-6) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 6l behind House Red (9-4) at Leicester 7f 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Oct.
Going French (IRE) 40-1 (7-12) Raced wide, always rear division, 15th of 17, 9l behind Black Snowflake (9-2) at Goodwood 7f 2yo hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Brave Ghurka 15-2 (8-13) Led after 1f, ridden and hung left over 1f out, soon hung right and headed 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 5l behind Cat Hunter (8-6) at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn auc stks (5) pol in Oct.