made all, quicken pace 2f out, clear entering final furlong, pushed out comfortably
close up, ridden to chase winner 2f out, kept on, no chance with winner
steadied start, keen, held up, close enough, ridden 3f out, no impression
held up, close enough, pushed along over 3f out, kept on to go 3rd over 1f out, no chance with leading pair
tracked winner until pace quicken 2f out, ridden and soon one pace
Having just hung away a chance of a hat-trick last time LAAHEB is given achance to get back to winning ways here at the expense of the well treated Larkham and Mark Johnston's consistent William Blake. Well bred the selection has shown himself as a strong galloper to win two of his last three starts. He was just found wanting by a neck last time after hanging under pressure and with the form beginning to work out from that race he leaves the impression he has more to offer off a six pound higher mark. Larkham is given a weight for age allowance which negates his mark rise for a neck success last time. He's been a different horse since being gelded and he should be in the frame again. William Blake is nothing if not consistent and looks certain to run his race again and Do The Strand enters calculations after getting off the mark at the third attempt last time. This is a really decent contest in which Laaheb should be the one they have to beat.
Laaheb 4-6fav (9-3) Tracked leader, went far side 7f out, led that quartet, led and overall leader over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, ridden and headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Broomielaw (9-12) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Aug.
William Blake 9-2 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden and headway with winner from over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Charm School (9-7) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Shavansky 6-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, challenged 3f out, weakened from 2f out, 8th of 11, 21l behind Bencoolen (9-5) at Goodwood 1m 1f app hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Aug.
Motafarred (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) In touch, pushed along 3f out, weakened well over 1f out, 8th of 12, 10l behind Kiwi Bay (9-6) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Larkham (USA) 13-8fav (9-6) Tracked leader, driven to challenge entering final 2f, led narrowly 1f out, driven and all out, won at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug beating Geneva Geyser (9-7) by nk, 5 ran.
Do The Strand (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, ridden entering final furlong, stayed on under pressure, won at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) sft in Aug beating Troopingthecolour (9-0) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
