held up towards rear, driven along and plugged on final 2f
in touch, driven along 5f out, soon weakened
chased leader to 3f out, weakened quickly
chased leaders over 7f
chased leaders, driven along to chase leader 3f out until over 2f out, soon weakened and eased final furlong
mid-division, ridden along over 6f out, soon in rear, virtually pulled up final 3f, tailed off
held up, short-lived effort 4f out, soon weakened
led, hung right across the stand rail from over 2f out, stayed on until driven and headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd near finish
held up in rear, driven along 4f out, soon weakened
in touch, headway to chase leader over 2f out to over 1f out, rallied under pressure to regain 2nd near finish
held up in rear, headway under pressure from 3f out, chased leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, driven out
The short list for the Group 3 St Simon Stakes consists of Mountain, Dragon Dancer and Munsef, with the selection being Mountain. A 10-furlong Listed winner at Fairyhouse last time, this looks to be a level that Mountain can handle and, with the extra two furlongs likely to suit, he can go well. The Derby runner-up, Dragon Dancer, continues to have that tag of being 'the best maiden in training', and he must surely win sooner rather than later. Not beaten far over course and distance in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes in August, Munsef followed that up with a good second to Young Mick in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge. Those sort efforts make him a leading player today. Turning to the others and the Yorkshire Oaks runner-up, Short Skirt, is not ruled out of a good run, The Whistling Teal has more than enough ability to win this and, if on his best form, he cannot be ruled out, bumper winner Alfie Flits has been running highly creditably in Flat races and is also not ruled out of a good run, but Franklins Gardens has disappointed since his good York run in August. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Mountain.
The Whistling Teal 20-1 (9-10) Held up in touch, 6th and progress approaching straight, moderate 4th 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Kastoria (9-7) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sept.
Akarem 12-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 14, 9l behind Degas Art (8-6) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stk (1) sft in Sept.
Alfie Flits 5-2 (9-8) Held up in touch, ridden and effort over 1f out, not quite pace to challenge, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Kandidate (9-8) at Sandown 1m 2f lst stk (1) gf in Jul.
Foxhaven 9-1 (9-0) Held up in 5th, ridden when not much room over 1f out, plugged on one pace final furlong, 4th of 8, 5l behind Young Mick (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gs in Sept.
Fracas (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden to challenge approaching straight, 3rd and no impression from over 2f out, kept on same pace under pressure, 4th of 8, 12l behind Kastoria (9-7) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sept.
Franklins Gardens 13-2 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 21l behind Hawridge Prince (9-0) at Newmarket 2m Grp 3 (1) gs.
Munsef 11-4fav (9-0) Raced wide, headway over 2f out, stayed on to chase winner 1f out, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Young Mick (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gs in Sept.
Orcadian 15-2 (9-1) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 11l behind Akarem (9-1) at Ascot 1m 4f lst stk (1) sft in May.
Dragon Dancer 8-1 (9-2) Led to over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Rail Link (9-2) at Longchamp 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gd in Sept.
Mountain (IRE) 9-10fav (9-1) Always prominent, pulled hard early, 3rd into straight, close 2nd and ridden 1 1/2f out, led 1f out, stayed on well, won at Fairyhouse 1m 2f lst stk (1) sft in Sept beating Cool Touch (9-1) by 2l, 12 ran.
Short Skirt (8-7) Dwelt, soon close up, disputed 2nd after 4f out, ridden and beaten approaching final furlong, 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Montare (9-2) at Longchamp 1m 4f fll stk Grp 2 (1) gd in Sept.
Sunday Symphony 3-1jt-fav (10-6) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 9l behind Rationale (7-12) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sept.
