held up in 3rd, headway on outside under pressure over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
made all, joined 5f out, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on strongly to assert inside final furlong
tracked winner, challenged 5f out, edged left from 4f out, every chance and pushed along inside final 2f, soon ridden, hung left and weakened inside final furlong, eased towards finish
A tricky contest with no committed front-runner in a small field. Time To Study edges it at the weights and won over 1m6f at Doncaster before failing to figure in the Cesarewitch. It was soft ground when Duke Of Bronte scored at Ascot last month but an earlier attempt at today’s trip doesn’t boost confidence and a chance is taken there is more to come from ROYAL LINE. The latter remains unbeaten having won on his handicap debut in heavy going at Haydock and John Gosden’s colt has more scope than either of today’s rivals.
Duke Of Bronte 9-1 (8-8) In touch, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon every chance, ran on, 3rd of 16, 1l behind First Nation (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Time To Study (FR) 11-1 (8-13) In touch, dropped to mid-division 9f out, driven to chase leaders over 3f out, soon ridden and no impression, weakened final furlong, 17th of 34, 22 1/4l behind Withhold (8-8) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Royal Line 5-4fav (8-11) Towards rear, headway 3f out, led and hung left over 1f out, kept on well, won at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Sep beating Night Of Glory (9-1) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.