took keen hold, led, soon clear, reluctant and reminders on stable bend before 4th, mistake 6th, reduced lead soon after, ridden before 3 out, 4 lengths up when mistake last, headed close home
raced in 3rd with leader well clear, jumped left at times, went 2nd after 6th, awkward landing 3 out, 4 lengths down last, driven to close flat, led close home
chased clear leader, jumped right at times, not fluent 1st or 3rd, lost 2nd after 6th, 3rd and beaten 2 out
held up, in 4th, off the pace, some progress from 3 out, no impression
took keen hold, always behind, pulled up before 3 out
Stone Quercus bids to repeat September’s success at Perth but will find this tougher under a penalty. A couple of these look set to take advantage including King Julien, a runner-up over hurdles on a couple of occasions already. But CAPE OF GLORY is rated much higher than the latter on the Flat and a chance is taken Keith Dalgleish’s charge can make a winning start over timber. The remainder are harder to fancy with Ludlow fourth Rockliffe preferred to Marbeth and Josephine K.
Stone Quercus (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Made all, took keen hold and wandered into some of the hurdles, clear before last, stayed on, won at Perth 2m (4) gd in Sep beating G'day Aussie (10-12) by 9l, 3 ran.
Cape Of Glory (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) Led, clear after 1f until over 7f out, headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 4l behind Watersmeet (9-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
King Julien (IRE) 15-2 (8-11) Pushed along and always in rear, tailed off, last of 12, dist behind Primobella (9-7) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp (6) sft in Oct.
Rockliffe 12-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, never dangerous, 6th of 9, 10 1/2l behind Torremar (9-7) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Josephine K 80-1 (10-5) Held up, always in rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next, at Hexham 2m (4) gs in Jun.
Marbeth (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Rear, 13th halfway, ridden under 3f out, no headway, kept on same pace final furlong to 10th, no danger, 10th of 13, 11 1/2l behind Honor Oak (9-0) at Galway 1m hcp sft in Sep.