tracked leaders, headway to lead over 1f out, ran on, comfortable, eased near finish
led and soon 5 lengths clear, ridden and reduced lead 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on one pace
keen held up, outpaced over 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders
held up in rear, lost action and pulled up over 4f out, dismounted
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, no impression
tracked clear leader, closed 2f out, every chance over 1f out, soon outpaced by clear winner
There shouldn't be any hanging about in this as Andrew Balding's pair - Havana Beat and Whiplash Willie - are both stayers who will need a strong pace to be effective at this trip. The former made much of the running in the Ascot Gold Cup in June but has been disappointing since. Wadi Al Hattawi won over a longer trip here last month having gone wrong in the Ebor a couple of weeks earlier. But his overall form doesn't match that of Cannock Chase, placed three times at Group 3 level this year including last time at Windsor. TASHAAR (NAP) couldn't cope when tried in a Group 2 at York last time but only weakened inside the final furlong and first two went on to finish fourth and second in the St Leger. Richard Hannon's colt can make the most of his weight-for-age allowance in this.
Cannock Chase (USA) 9-2fav (9-1) Held up in 6th, headway on wide outside over 1f out, ridden, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, went 2nd final strides, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Racing History (8-7) at Windsor 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Aug.
Havana Beat (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 11, 11 3/4l behind Pallasator (9-3) at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Red Galileo 6-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, ran on, just held, 2nd of 3, shd behind Elhaame (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 2f stks (2) gd in Sep.
Wadi Al Hattawi (IRE) 15-2 (9-10) Held up behind, headway towards far side over 2f out, led inside final 2f, ridden 1f out, ran on, clear inside final furlong, won at Newmarket 1m 5f hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Intense Tango (8-1) by 3 3/4l, 15 ran.
Whiplash Willie 10-1 (9-7) In touch, not clear run over 2f out, soon switched right and hampered, switched left to outside entering final 2f, stayed on to 4th inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 4l behind Forgotten Rules (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) hvy in Oct.
Kallisha 5-1 (9-12) Held up in last pair, smooth headway over 2f out, 2nd inside final 2f, led over 1f out, soon clear, easily, won at Newbury 1m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Aug beating Cottesloe (9-11) by 7l, 6 ran.
Tashaar (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Held up in 5th, headway 3f out, ridden and effort to challenge over 2f out, one pace entering final furlong, soon no impression with front pair, lost 3rd final strides, 4th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Storm The Stars (9-0) at York 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Aug.
