chased leaders, driven and ran on to lead final 150 yards, edged right, ran on
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced
chased leader, led 2f out, driven and kept on well until headed and unable to quicken final 150 yards
bumped start, in touch, outpaced 3f out, kept on again inside final furlong
dwelt, raced wide in touch, headway to tracked leading pair 2f out, driven and edged left over 1f out, one pace final furlong
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
Hephaestus gets a tentative vote over the likes of Espartano, Palo Verde, Argentine and Swift Cut. This has the look of a very close contest on paper, but there was a lot to like about the way that Hephaestus knuckled down to his task when staying on in third behind Malaaq in a recent Yarmouth nursery, and Mick Channon's charge can benefit from this step back up in trip. Although strictly held by Mac Gille Eoin on 2lb worse terms for an earlier victory over the Gallagher horse here, he is taken to come out on top again. Espartano looked one to follow when landing his first two successes at Windsor but he has struggled against some of the top juveniles since. This is an easier task but he is weighted accordingly. Mark Johnson is double-handed with Argentine and Palo Verde, with preference for the latter, although there is not much between the pair. Swift Cut was fully expected when justifying favouritism here last time after his good run at Newcastle earlier, and it is difficult to gauge how much improvement there is in the Alan Jarvis-trained youngster. The drop back in trip is not seen as a problem, and he should go well in a bid to follow up. However, our narrow vote goes to Hephaestus.
Espartano 12-1 (8-9) Always behind, 22nd of 28, 17l behind Caldra (9-1) at Newmarket 6f 2yo aut (2) sft in Sept.
Palo Verde 20-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 18, 10l behind Algol (9-3) at York 6f 2yo hcp (3) sft.
Hephaestus 9-1 (9-0) In rear, headway over 1f out, chased leaders final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 13, 1l behind Malaaq (9-3) at Yarmouth 5f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Argentine (IRE) 7-4fav (8-13) Slowly into stride, ridden to challenge 2f out, every chance and edged right 1f out, weakened, 5th of 6, 6l behind Northern Fling (8-10) at Goodwood 6f 2yo hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Mac Gille Eoin 5-1 (9-6) Raced wide, mid-division, ridden 2f out, ran on final furlong, gaining near finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind Hephaestus (9-6) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Non Compliant 2-5fav (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden to lead well over 1f out, soon clear, eased inside final furlong, won at W'hampton 6f 2yo mdn aut (5) pol in Sept beating Early Promise (8-12) by 5l, 11 ran.
Swift Cut (IRE) 7-4fav (9-3) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, in command over 1f out, ran on well, eased near finish, won at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn aut (5) pol beating Priory Bay (9-3) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Fort Worth (IRE) 11-2 (8-8) With leader, pushed along 2f out, weakened quickly, eased inside final furlong, last of 7, 9l behind Everymanforhimself (9-12) at Nottingham 6f 2yo hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Johannesburg Cat (USA) (8-9) Last of 7, 19l behind Adamantinos (9-2) at Baden-Baden 6f lst stk sft in Aug.