in touch, headway 4f out, chased winner over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on one pace, gamely
close up, ridden over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
slowly away in rear, never on terms
held up towards rear, pushed along 9f out, never on terms
raced wide held up, weakened 3f out
tracked leader, ridden 3f out, weakened inside final furlong
raced wide held up, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and ran on
led, ridden over 4f out, headed over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
Indigo Times beat the disappointing odds-on favourite Live Your Dream and Hochfeld when scoring over 1m6f two runs ago but found THEMAXWECAN too good over 2m at Goodwood last time. The latter has rediscovered his form with the fitting of cheekpieces and Mark Johnston’s charge can go one better than when runner-up in last year’s renewal. Mancini ran his best race of the year so far when second at Chester and is not out of this but stablemate Ernesto and Cleonte continue to struggle. Turnpike Trip travels over from Ireland having gone close over today’s distance at Down Royal and is preferred to compatriot Great Bear but Yagood runs from 7lb out of the weights.
Live Your Dream (IRE) 10-11fav (9-10) Awkwardly away, tracked leaders in 4th, ridden to challenge over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Indigo Times (8-2) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Themaxwecan (IRE) 7-4fav (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden to press leaders 3f out, led 2f out, edged right well over 1f out, stayed on well, always doing enough, won at Goodwood 2m hcp (2) gf in Sep beating Indigo Times (9-1) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Hochfeld (IRE) 9-2 (9-8) Raced wide, tracked leader 9f out, pushed along 4f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Au Clair De Lune (8-8) at Chester 1m 6f hcp (3) gs in Sep.
Mancini 9-4fav (10-3) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Solent Gateway (9-2) at Chester 2m hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Indigo Times (IRE) 10-3 (9-1) Steadied to race in detached last, nudged along occasionally, in touch halfway, ridden over 3f out, stayed on well to chase winner inside last, always held, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Themaxwecan (10-0) at Goodwood 2m hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Cleonte (IRE) 18-1 (9-2) Mid-division and pushed along at times, reminder 7f out, weakened final 2f, 9th of 10, 20 1/4l behind Just Hubert (9-2) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Great Bear 33-1 (8-9) Disputed lead, headed 4f out, soon ridden and weakened, 21st of 23, 16 3/4l behind Ever Present (10-0) at Leopardstown 1m 5f hcp gd in Sep.
Turnpike Trip 3-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along over 3f out, soon ridden and no impression 1f out, under pressure and kept on to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Anyonecanhaveitall (8-10) at Down Royal 2m 2f hcp gd in Sep.
Ernesto (GER) 14-1 (9-2) Towards rear early, tracked leaders halfway, ridden over 3f out, weakened and eased well over 2f out, last of 5, 36 3/4l behind Themaxwecan (10-0) at Goodwood 2m hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Yagood (IRE) 7-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, pushed along 2f out, no impression but kept on final furlong, 5th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Oceanline (8-12) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp (4) gs in Aug.