held up, headway over 5f out, chased leaders over 3f out, stayed on final furlong
held up, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, every chance when bumped over 1f out, no extra final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
dwelt, held up, headway over 4f out, hung right and led over 1f out, ran on
raced wide of pack, in touch, joined main group over 9f out, pushed along over 6f out, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, pushed along over 5f out, weakened over 2f out
tracked leader, led over 2f out, hung right and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
Hawridge Prince gets the vote here ahead of Franklins Gardens and Balkan Knight. Hawridge Prince confirmed his upward progress by winning the Fenwolf Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. He has not been seen since but coming here fresh might not be such a problem and he can go well. Franklins Gardens has been disappointing since his Lonsdale Cup second but, based on that form, would have to hold a chance, while Balkan Knight has competed well at this level and in handicaps in the recent past and is another that is respected. Kasthari's Doncaster Cup run last time was a lot more encouraging but, on ratings, the others have a few pounds to find if they are going to win. Once again, then, the selection is Hawridge Prince.
Balkan Knight 20-1 (9-5) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, 6th and held when badly hampered inside final furlong, 9th of 15, 14l behind Yeats (9-10) at Goodwood 2m Grp 2 (1) gf in Aug.
Bulwark (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Tracked leader, led inside final 3f, headed just inside final 2f, chased easy winner to inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 9, 7l behind Hawridge Prince (9-3) at Ascot 2m lst stk (1) gs in Sept.
Franklins Gardens 13-8fav (9-3) Led, headed inside final 3f, weakened rapidly 2f out, eased final furlong, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Hawridge Prince (9-3) at Ascot 2m lst stk (1) gs in Sept.
Hawridge Prince 6-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, headway 6f out, led going well just inside final 2f, soon in command, won at Ascot 2m lst stk (1) gs in Sept beating Frank Sonata (9-6) by 5l, 9 ran.
Kasthari (IRE) 33-1 (9-1) Led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 5l behind Sergeant Cecil (9-4) at York 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gd in Sept.
Midas Way 25-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, effort on outside and ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 9l behind Hawridge Prince (9-3) at Ascot 2m lst stk (1) gs in Sept.
Zurbaran (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Led, headed over 3f out, hung left from over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 7, shd behind Novellara (8-9) at Newmarket 1m 6f 3yo lst stk (1) gd in Sept.
