dwelt, soon in touch on inside, not run from 2f out until squeezed through and bumped on inside to lead inside final furlong, readily
held up in rear, pushed along halfway, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer
held up, ridden 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
led, ridden 2f out, edged right approaching final furlong, edged left and headed inside final furlong, kept on
prominent, pushed along 3f out, edged left from 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
prominent and keen, pushed along over 3f out, soon lost touch
tracked leader, ridden and every chance from 2f out, until no extra inside final furlong
Thousand Words is the pick over Adagio, Big Robert and Sonny Red, with Brave Tin Soldier on the short-list as well. Whether any of these is destined to land a Classic this season is open to question, but they all showed winning form last term and will no doubt be placed to good effect. Thousand Words was allowed to take his chance in the Racing Post Trophy despite the heavy going and the fact that he looked as though he was starting to go in his coat. In the circumstances then, Barry Hills's colt ran well in finishing fifth behind Authorized, and will line up a fresh horse on this better ground. Adagio was only beaten four-and-a-half lengths by Teofilo in the Dewhurst, and that form alone puts him bang in the frame, while Big Robert is just about held by the selection on their running in the Tattersall Stakes here last September. Sonny Red lost his unbeaten record in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot but will be seen to better effect over today's sort of trip, while Brave Tin Soldier is out to redeem his reputation after also seeing the backside of Dutch Art in the Middle Park Stakes. This is a tough one to call with fitness a key factor, and only a modest vote goes to Thousand Words.
Adagio 25-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, heaway over 1f out, kept on, 7th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Teofilo (9-1) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Big Robert 4-1fav (8-12) Held up, headway approaching final furlong, kept on, never nearer, 5th of 10, 1l behind Thousand Words (8-12) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) sft in Sept.
Broghill 10-3 (9-0) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase leading pair final furlong, one pace, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Charlie Farnsbarns (9-0) at Ascot 7f 2yo stk (2) gs in Oct.
He's A Decoy (IRE) 40-1 (9-1) Held up, pushed along over 3f out, never on terms, 8th of 15, 8l behind Teofilo (9-1) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Sonny Red (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Chased leaders on inside, edged right off rail 2f out, soon ridden and edged left, stayed on one pace final furlong, 4th of 11, 5l behind Dutch Art (9-1) at Ascot 5f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun.
Striving Storm (USA) 6-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden and hung left from 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Dijeerr (8-12) at Newbury 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) hvy in Oct.
Teslin (IRE) (9-0) Prominent, disputing 3rd entering straight, under pressure 2f out, weakened, 10th of 11, 11l behind Mount Nelson (9-0) at Saint-Cloud 1m Grp 1 in Oct.
Thousand Words 7-1 (9-0) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 5th of 14, 5l behind Authorized (9-0) at Newbury 1m 2yo Grp 1 (1) hvy in Oct.
Brave Tin Soldier (USA) 9-2 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 6, 6l behind Dutch Art (8-12) at Newmarket 6f 2yo Grp 1 (1) sft in Sept.
