raced stand side, close up, headway over 1f out, soon every chance, stayed on
raced stand side in rear, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish
raced stand side tracked leader, pushed along 2f out, led inside final furlong, ridden and ran on
raced centre tracked leader, overall leader after 2f, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
raced centre tracked leaders, headway to lead overall over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
led stand side group, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, stayed on
raced centre overall leader 2f, tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
Most of these are looking to bolster their 2000 Guineas claims with RIVET the only Group 1 winner in the field. He won the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October with Contrapposto well beaten. War Decree’s defeat of subsequent Group 1 winner Thunder Snow in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood in July gives the Ballydoyle colt a chance with the selection on collateral form though he hasn’t raced since then. Larchmont Lad won a Group 3 over 7f here in September and the Hannon yard has a good recent record in this while the likes of Eminent and Benbatl are the least exposed but the latter has Dante and Derby entries rather than the Guineas. Gulliver has won a maiden at York but still plenty to find on that form.
Benbatl 15-8fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, joined leader over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, readily, won at Doncaster 7f mdn stks (5) gd in Apr beating Made Of Honour (9-0) by 7l, 12 ran.
Contrapposto (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Keen, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakening when short of room approaching final furlong, 9th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Rivet (9-1) at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Eminent (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Slowly away, soon in touch, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, ran on, readily, won at Newmarket 1m mdn stks (4) gf in Sep beating Vantage Point (9-0) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Gulliver 4-1 (9-5) Always prominent, led over 2f out, edged left and went clear over 1f out, stayed on, won at York 7f mdn stks (3) gd in Oct beating Dubai Horizon (9-5) by 1l, 13 ran.
Larchmont Lad (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Raced wide, close up, effort and every chance over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, gamely, won at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Sep beating Whitecliffsofdover (9-0) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Rivet (IRE) 11-4 (9-1) Made all, ridden and ran on final furlong, won at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct beating Yucatan (9-1) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
War Decree (USA) 6-4fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, switched left over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, led entering final furlong, ran on well, clear towards finish, won at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jul beating Thunder Snow (9-1) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.