chased leaders 4f
in touch, effort over 1f out, hard driven and stayed on inside final furlong
chased leaders over 4f
slowly into stride, always behind
led, 3 lengths clear halfway, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up, some headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, never a danger
sweating, slowly into stride, held up, headway from 2f out, chased winner approaching final furlong, stayed on inside final furlong, always held
held up in touch, chased clear leader over 2f out, closed to lead over 1f out, driven out
dwelt, keen and soon chased leaders, weakened quickly over 2f out
prominent, outpaced and lost place 3f out, driven and stayed on again inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
always behind
behind, driven and stayed on final 2f, never a danger
Stepping Up looked a two-year-old to keep on the right side of when making an impressive winning debut at Newcastle last month and was not disgraced in the Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket subsequently but today's softer ground is of concern as it is for Hurricane Cat so preference is for Dickensian. The selection looks to be going the right way and the son of Xaar is probably ready for this step up in class now with the form of his last two starts having worked out pretty well. The William Haggas-trained Military Cross has done little wrong of late and has to be respected but he is less likely to be suited by the cut in the ground than the Godolphin colt. Mick Channon's Guest Connections has been highly tried of late and should appreciate the drop in class, while Private Business may do better now that he races on a softer surface again. Hurricane Cat handled the soft ground perfectly well at Cork last time but that was a weaker race than this and it remains to be seen whether he can reproduce that better effort in this company. There should be no such problems for Dickensian though and he gets the vote to score again.
Guest Connections 25-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression from 2f out, 5th of 7, 12l behind George Washington (9-0) at Curragh 6f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.
Araafa (IRE) 9-1 (8-9) Keen, close up, ridden every chance over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 2l behind Aussie Rules (8-9) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Sept.
Beau Nash (USA) 7-2fav (9-0) Made all, stayed on gamely, ridden out, won at Newbury 7f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Sept beating Judge (9-0) by a nk, 11 ran.
Cape of Luck (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Hung left throughout, in rear, reminders over 3f out, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead near finish, won at Lingfield 6f 2yo stk (4) pol beting Brandywell Boy (9-4) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Daggernought (USA) 12-1 (9-7) Made all, ridden clear 2f out, eased near finish, won at Lingfield 7f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Sept beating Little Miss Daisy (8-8) by 1l, 16 ran.
Dickensian (IRE) 11-10fav (9-5) Soon led, ridden clear over 1f out, comfortably, won at Leicester 7f nov stk (4) gf in Sept beating Tell (9-5) by 4l, 5 ran.
Final Verse 10-1 (9-6) With leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 17, 2l behind Prince of Light (9-4) at York 6f 2yo hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Hurricane Cat (USA) 6-4fav (9-2) Always close up, led after halfway, drew clear from 2f out, easily, won at Cork 7f 2yo mdn gd beating Monsieur Henri (9-2) by 8l, 18 ran.
Military Cross 11-8fav (9-5) Held up, headway 2f out, ridden to lead just inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Salisbury 7f nov med aut stk (5) gd in Sept beating Tufton (9-5) by a nk, 8 ran.
Private Business (USA) 3-1 (8-12) Soon led, headed inside final 2f, stayed on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind True Cause (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 2yo lst stk (1) gf in Sept.
Stepping Up (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (8-9) Held up in touch, ran in snatches, outpaced over 1f out, driven, ran on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Aussie Rules (8-9) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Sept.
Well Armed (USA) 150-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, not clear run inside final 2f, switched left over 1f out, switched right approaching final furlong, ran on, 4th of 12, 2l behind Blitzkrieg (8-11) at Salisbury 1m 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd.
Yasoodd 9-2 (8-9) Held up in rear, improved halfway, ridden, no impression from over 1f out until stayed on well inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 1 1/2l behind Aussie Rules (8-9) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Sept.
Metropolitan Man 25-1 (8-9) Keen, held up, lost place 3f out, soon ridden, ran on inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 1 1/2l behind Aussie Rules (8-9) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Sept.
