held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up in rear and keen, weakened over 1f out
led for 1f, tracked leader, led again inside final furlong, kept on well
tracked leaders, kept on towards finish
tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, towards rear, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, weakened well over 1f out
An intriguing conclusion to the card with CAPEABILITY just preferred because of his experience to see off debutant Black Eagle, while Ithinkbest can get involved. The last-named, a pupil of Sir Michael Stoute, was slightly disappointing when sent off favourite at Sandown last time out and is proving a little expensive to follow. He may be better on genuine good ground than today's conditions and the stiff mile at Sandown is not too dissimilar-a-test to this, so that last run does not fill us with confidence. Godolphin's fine season below elite level may well continue with Black Eagle, a Cape Cross colt out of a Mr Prospector mare. He cost 200,000 guineas and is related to plenty of winners over this trip, which looks ideal for him. The nagging doubt though is over the fast ground, which is unlikely to see him at his best, and also the presence of Capeability. Mick Channon's gelding is another by Cape Cross, although there is more evidence of fast ground influences on his dam's side. He has also acted on the Polytrack, so there is hope he will handle today's ground. It looks more likely that the trip, rather than the surface, beat him on each of his last two outings and now returned to a stiff mile he will be tough to beat. Laazim is one who would want a drop of rain to enhance his chances, and Kloof has a fair bit to find, so Capeability is preferred.
Black Eagle (IRE) Cape Cross colt out of Shimna.
Capeability (IRE) 5-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, pulled hard, went prominent 5f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 9, 35l behind Alainmaar (9-3) at Pontefract 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gf in Sep.
Ithinkbest 15-8fav (9-2) Made most, pushed along, strongly pressed from 3f out, kept narrow advantage until ridden, headed 1f out, soon not quicken, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Directorship (9-2) at Sandown 1m 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gf in Jul.
Kloof 8-1 (8-10) Held up, driven and headway 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 7th of 10, 6l behind Mabait (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Laazim (USA) 16-1 (8-10) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out, 6th of 8, 6l behind Invisible Man (9-4) at Pontefract 1m 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Aug.
Localiser (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Behind, headway halfway, led over 2f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Seldom (8-10) at Redcar 7f 3yo mdn aut (5) gf in Apr.
Convitezza 100-1 (8-9) Slowly away, behind, never in contention, 5th of 9, 33l behind Alainmaar (9-3) at Pontefract 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gf in Sep.
Georgie Bee 17-2 (8-2) Chased leaders and keen, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 13, 13l behind Valid Point (8-9) at Beverley 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) fm in Aug.
