held up, in last pair, headway on outside edging right 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, chased winner and every chance inside final furlong, no extra and dropped to 3rd close home
tracked leaders, in 4th, headway towards outside over 2f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led just inside final furlong, stayed on well, driven out
led on near side rail, ridden and edged right from over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, chased winner until slightly outpaced inside final furlong, rallied to regain 2nd close home, not pace of winner
took keen hold, held up, tracking leaders in 5th, pushed along over 2f out, ridden inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out
steadied start and awkwardly away, pulled hard and held up, in rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden no headway and struggling final furlong
chased leading pair, went 2nd 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leader until 2f out, chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, driven and stayed on same pace inside final furlong,
Blue Point was not beaten far in the Middle Park over 6f here but it was still a bit of a let down given his impressive earlier success in the Gimcrack at York. He was a couple of lengths ahead of Mehmas last time but CHURCHILL (NAP) beat the same horse four lengths to land the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh when posting his best effort so far. He’s the one they all have to beat and Aidan O’Brien has brought regular pacemaker Lancaster Bomber along for company. Rivet got the better of Thunder Snow by only a head to win the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster but South Seas took the Solario at Sandown in good style and makes more appeal. Seven Heavens easily landed the odds in a match at Goodwood last time but an earlier defeat of Lockheed gives him plenty to find with Churchill on collateral form.
Blue Point (IRE) 11-10fav (9-0) Keen, close up, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind The Last Lion (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Sep.
Churchill (IRE) 4-5fav (9-3) Held up 3rd, driven into 2nd under 2f out, ridden to lead narrowly 1f out, soon asserted, kept on strongly, comfortably, won at Curragh 7f Grp 1 stks (1) Yielding in Sep beating Mehmas (9-3) by 4 1/4l, 7 ran.
Lancaster Bomber (USA) 40-1 (9-3) Broke well, soon led, under pressure and headed under 2f out, ridden and dropped to 4th 1f out, no extra in 5th final 100 yards, 5th of 7, 9l behind Churchill (9-3) at Curragh 7f Grp 1 stks (1) Yielding in Sep.
Rivet (IRE) 7-4fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, headway over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on to lead narrowly inside final 100 yards, held on, won at Doncaster 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Thunder Snow (9-0) by hd, 6 ran.
Seven Heavens 1-10fav (9-5) Bumped and carried left start, pulled hard, tracked sole rival, challenged over 2f out, led well over 1f out, edged right, clear entering final furlong, ran on, pushed out, won at Goodwood 7f stks (2) gd in Aug beating Shabeeh (9-1) by 6l, 2 ran.
South Seas (IRE) 9-4fav (9-1) Started very slowly, soon recovered into mid-division on inside, steady headway on inside 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, soon ridden and stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Aug beating Salouen (9-1) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Thunder Snow (IRE) 2-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden when hard pressed over 1f out, headed narrowly inside final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 6, hd behind Rivet (9-0) at Doncaster 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep.
