made all, driven over 1f out, soon challenged, ran on inside final furlong, stayed on gamely
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, not pace to challenge
pulled hard tracking leader, under pressure 2f out, soon one pace
held up in touch, hard ridden over 2f out, soon no impression
held up in touch, headway when short of room over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on same pace
Mark Johnston's SKY FALCON has not been too harshly punished by the handicapper for his win at Newcastle last month having only been raised 3lb and he can win again and complete a hat-trick with the main danger rated as Oliver's Gold. Amanda Perrett's colt showed improved form on his nursery debut at Epsom last week when narrowly beaten by Cometh over seven furlongs and he has every chance over an extra furlong racing off the same mark. Roger Charlton's Marzante is hard to weigh up first time in this grade after his win on soft ground at Ffos Las but he has to be considered as does the consistent Nothing To Hide but it is Sky Falcon that gets the verdict.
Star Surprise 11-4 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 8l behind Buzz Law (7-12) at Newmarket 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Aug.
Marzante (USA) 8-11fav (9-3) Led early, tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, hung left well inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Ffos Las 1m 2yo mdn (5) sft in Aug beating Cobbs Quay (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Sky Falcon (USA) 2-1fav (9-7) Chased leaders in centre, driven along to chase leader 1f out, stayed on under pressure to lead towards finish, won at Newcastle 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug beating Nicola's Dream (8-13) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Nothing To Hide (IRE) 13-2 (9-5) Close up, headway over 1f out, stayed on to chase winner final 100 yards, no real impression, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Arabian Star (9-0) at Newbury 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Spartic 16-1 (9-0) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, idled and driven inside final furlong, just held on, won at Lingfield 7f 2yo hco 0-75 (5) pol in Aug beating Malpas Missile (9-6) by shd, 13 ran.
Futurism 12-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, good headway on wide outside 2f out, stayed on to close 3rd just over 1f out, closed with runner up towards finish, not able to get to winner, 3rd of 14, 1/2l behind Countrywide Flame (8-11) at Kempton 1m 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
May's Boy 50-1 (8-12) Slowly into strde, towards rear, plugged on one pace from over 1f out, 8th of 14, 10l behind Countrywide Flame (8-11) at Kempton 1m 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Oliver's Gold 8-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, in rear, hampered 5f out, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Cometh (8-5) at Epsom Downs 7f 2yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd.