close up, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong
close up, ridden to press winner 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
keen tracked leader, led over 7f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden to press winner inside final furlong, stayed on
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong
tracked leaders, led 2f out, ridden and ran on
dwelt towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
raced wide towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, weakened 2f out
led, headed over 7f out, tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong
Last year's winner Hunter's Light won a Group One race this season and 2010 winner, Nideeb, went on to land the Winter Derby. Connections may decide to aim Farraaj at the latter event if he runs well here but this is a tough comeback for a horse that hasn't raced since April. Circumvent makes more appeal as he suffered narrow-margin defeats in both this race last year and the Winter Derby back in March but it's GENZY that rates the selection. Formerly trained in France where he was beaten only a head by the high-class Meandre last year, he ran out of steam close home on his debut for Ian Williams at Leicester last month and should be a lot sharper today. The remainder are all handicappers with plenty to find on these terms though both True To Form and Tinshu are capable of sneaking a place and Emerald Wilderness was in fine form at the track at this time last year.
Bancnuanaheireann (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Held up, headway to chase leader 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Wannabe King (9-3) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-95 (3) sft.
Circumvent 5-1 (9-0) Led 1f, tracked leader until 8f out, ridden over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on one pace and no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Opera Gal (8-13) at Ayr 1m 2f Listed stks 3yo (1) hvy in Sep.
Emerald Wilderness (IRE) 25-1 (9-12) Led early, tracked leader until 5f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 48l behind Estedaama (8-8) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Oct.
Genzy (FR) 20-1 (9-2) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway on outside over 3f out, travelling well over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 8l behind Cracking Lass (8-11) at Leicester 1m 4f cond Stakes (3) sft in Oct.
True To Form (IRE) 20-1 (9-6) Led 3f, chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Validus (9-5) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Farraaj (IRE) (9-1) 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Malossol (9-1) at Capannelle(ITY) 1m 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Quixote 9-2 (8-11) Held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 5l behind Rawaki (9-1) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp 0-90 (3) hvy in Oct.
Our Gal 14-1 (9-7) Tracked leasders, driven over 2f out, lost place when hampered inside final 2f, weakened 1f out, 8th of 11, 20l behind Princess Caetani (8-13) at Newbury 1m 2f flls hcp 0-85 (4) hvy in Oct.
Sunday Bess (JPN) 33-1 (9-2) Raced wide chasing leaders, ridden and weakened over 4f out, tailed off and virtually pulled up final 2f, 13th of 14, well behind Tempest Fugit (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 5f flls lst stks (1) pol.
Tinshu (IRE) 25-1 (8-6) Mid-division, ridden and hung left over 2f out, soon beaten, 12th of 16, 24l behind Hajras (8-11) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep.
