in touch, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, hung left and kept on inside final furlong
tracked leaders, led over 1f out, ridden out
in touch, pushed along 4f out, effort over 2f out, onepaced from over 1f out
slowly into stride, raced in last place, some headway 2f out, ridden and soon weakened, eased final furlong
tracked leader, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, soon mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon beaten
in rear, pushed along over 6f out, ridden and headway 2f out, chased winner and stayed on inside final furlong
Nonrunner
Sir Michael Stoute is keen to put more distance between himself and his rivals in the trainer's title race - EXPRESSIVE can help by landing the cash on offer to the winner. Hay Fever did well as a juvenile so is shortlisted as a threat, while Illusive Spirit and Chateauneuf can scrap it out as the best of the rest. Chateauneuf ran better than her finishing position would have you believe at Windsor 17 days ago. She just failed to quicken when it really mattered, but kept on to finish sixth behind Romany Princess (a subsequent winner at Sandown). She doesn't have much to find to make the frame in this company, though. Similar comments apply to Illusive Spirit even though he is out of sight in the pecking order at John Gosden's yard. Hay Fever finished second five times as a youngster and obviously has the heart to go close. However, he hasn't seen a racecourse for 330 days, so needs to prove his fitness. Therefore, it looks safest to stick with Expressive, who already looked like a professional when she finished second at Wolverhampton on her debut in May. The prize-money may be chicken feed in comparison to some of the haul amassed by team-Stoute this season. However, Expressive looks good enough to strike at this level and that's all that matters for the time being.
Group Leader (IRE) 100-1 (9-3) Soon badly outpaced, tailed off, last of 9, 39l behind Frognal (9-3) at Kempton 6f 2yo mdn auc stks (5) pol in Sep.
Illusive Spirit (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, ridden and no headway final 2f, 11th of 15, 17l behind Peking Prince (9-2) at Newbury 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Landofthefourones (USA) 25-1 (9-3) Held up, headway over 2f out, never on terms, 5th of 16, 12l behind Splendorinthegrass (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 3yo mdn (4) gd.
Largem 33-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 14, 13l behind Ever Loved (8-12) at Southwell 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) fbs in Sep.
Mythical Thrill 100-1 (9-3) Towards rear, never dangerous, last of 11, 43l behind Neuchatel (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Chateauneuf (IRE) 16-1 (8-1) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, no impression when ridden and hung left over 1f out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 6l behind Romany Princess (10-0) at Windsor 1m flls hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Herecomethegirls Falbrav filly out of Always On My Mind.
Lilly Royal (IRE) 50-1 (8-11) Slowly away, carried right start, ran very green, always in rear, last of 12, 31l behind Directorship (9-2) at Sandown 1m 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gf.
Fanunalter (8-11) 11th of 13, 18l behind Renowing (8-11) at Capannelle(ITY) 1m 2f lst stk hvy in Apr.
Hay Fever (IRE) 7-4fav (8-9) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Stan's Cool Cat (8-11) at Chepstow 6f 2yo mdn aut (5) gf in Jul '08.
Expressive 5-1 (8-4) Mid-division, headway on inside well over 1f out, soon 2nd briefly, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, went 2nd again towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Sunshine Always (9-0) at Wolverhampton 7f mdn stks (5) pol in May.
