held up in midfield, headway 3f out, soon ridden, pressed leader over 1f out where every chance, kept on inside final furlong but held near finish
midfield, headway to lead over 3f out, soon pressed for lead, ridden 2f out where pressed by new rival, held narrow lead entering final furlong, kept on well inside final furlong, gamely
midfield, ridden over 3f out, outpaced 2f out, tailed off over 1f out
held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, soon stayed into 4th, no impression 2f out, soon edged left, stayed into modest 3rd inside final furlong, no danger
briefly led, soon chased leader, headway over 3f out, soon ridden and pressed leader, no extra 2f out, outpaced by leaders over 1f out where 3rd, soon weakened
took keen hold, briefly midfield, soon surged to lead, pressed for lead 4f out, headed and ridden over 3f out where dropped to last, tailed off over 1f out
SANCTION showed further progress upped to 1m4f and winning at Catterick and there may be more to come over this longer trip. The handicapper looks to have caught up with today’s opposition given Divine Comedy was beaten at Yarmouth when bidding for a hat-trick and Reina Del Mar finished last of six at Doncaster having won twice at Newmarket earlier. Alba Longa never figured in Listed company last time having won at Chester before that.
Reina Del Mar (IRE) 9-1 (9-10) Slowly away, held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced, kept on one pace entering final furlong, last of 6, 4 1/2l behind Mistressofillusion (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp fll (2) sft in Sep.
Divine Comedy (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) Raced wide close up, ridden 2f out, stayed on one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Tajanis (8-12) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp (4) sft in Sep.
Alba Longa 17-2 (8-7) Led, ridden and headed over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Al Qareem (9-5) at Chester 1m 4f lst stks (1) gs in Sep.
Ajyad (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Cavern Club (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Sanction 13-8fav (9-0) Made all, led field towards near side in home straight, pushed along over 2f out, stayed on gamely, unchallenged, won at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (5) sft in Sep beating Squeezebox (9-13) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
So Farhh So Good (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Off the pace and always towards rear, 6th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Malka (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Sep.