led, headed halfway, tracked leader, pushed along and switched left approaching final furlong, ridden to lead again inside final furlong, soon pressed, ran on
towards rear, pushed along halfway, never nearer
pulled hard prominent, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
close up, headway 3f out, ridden to chased leader over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
prominent, led halfway, ridden and edged left over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
towards rear, outpaced over 1f out
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
keen, prominent, pushed along and lost place 3f out, weakened over 1f out
raced wide close up, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
dwelt in touch, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden to press winner inside final furlong, ran on
dwelt and went right start, pushed along in rear, never on terms
Richard Hannon, responsible for last year’s winner, has a trio of runners this year. Orliko showed little on debut but Purbeck Hills was a 50,000gns yearling and Real Smooth is a half-brother to a winning miler. Desert Land wasn’t far behind subsequent Group 1 winner Royal Meeting when fourth on debut and that looks the stand-out form but Charlie Appleby trained the third in that race so should know where he stands with Journey Of Life. The latter has already run twice and been gelded but lost his action when last seen here in July and is almost certainly better than that. City Master only beat one home at Leicester so has some improving to do and a couple of newcomers are preferred. FIGHTWITHME was a late foal but he’s by Shamardal out of a mare that won three times here over 7f and a mile and looks the stable selection. He gets the nod ahead of Cheveley Park’s Destination, though the latter is a half-brother to three winners.
Battle For Glory (USA) War Front colt out of Immortal Verse.
City Master 12-1 (9-0) In touch towards rear, pushed along halfway, weakened final furlong, 7th of 8, 8 3/4l behind Estihdaaf (9-0) at Leicester 7f mdn stks (4) gs in Oct.
Delachance (FR) Linngari colt out of Three French Hens.
Fightwithme (IRE) Shamardal colt out of Music Show.
Journey Of Life 16-1 (9-0) Overall leader centre, ridden edged left and headed approaching final furlong, wandered and weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Al Hilalee (9-0) at Newmarket 7f mdn stks (3) gf in Jul.
Mukha Magic 100-1 (9-0) Raced wide close up, pushed along 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 8, 10 1/4l behind Estihdaaf (9-0) at Leicester 7f mdn stks (4) gs in Oct.
Onebaba (IRE) No Nay Never colt out of Enharmonic.
Orliko (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Ran green, soon well behind, 10th of 11, 23l behind Buffalo River (9-2) at Kempton 7f stks (5) pol in Oct.
Purbeck Hills (IRE) Oasis Dream colt out of Albisola.
Real Smooth (IRE) Teofilo colt out of Amber Silk.
Smarter (IRE) Dark Angel colt out of Coquette Rouge.
Battle Of Waterloo (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Led, pushed along and headed approaching 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 35 1/4l behind Azano (9-2) at Yarmouth 7f stks (4) gs in Oct.
Desert Land (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Held up, headway over 2f out, pushed along and kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Royal Meeting (9-5) at Yarmouth 7f mdn stks (4) gf in Sep.
Destination Mukhadram colt out of Danehill Destiny.
Keith Rip Van Winkle colt out of Serenity Spa.