tracked leaders on rail, tried to close inside final furlong, never reached winner but just missed 2nd
taken steadily to post, took keen hold and soon tracked leaders on outer, went 2nd going well 2f out, driven and tried to close final furlong, not reached winner, just held on for 2nd
made all, set steady pace until quickened tempo over 2f out, driven inside final furlong, unchallenged and stayed on gamely
covered up behind leaders, going well 2f out, ran on inside final furlong but never able to challenge
chased winner, ridden 3f out, lost 2nd 2f out, soon weakened under pressure
held up in last pair behind slow pace, pulled out over 1f out, ran on final furlong, no chance
held up in touch, ridden on outside over 2f out, no response
slowly into stride, held up in last pair, ridden on outside 3f out, no impression final 2f
In this decent contest, Bygone Days is selected ahead of Jack Sullivan and Thousand Words. Sixth in the Golden Jubilee Stakes and a staying-on third over this trip at Goodwood last time, Bygone Days has the form and the rating to go well, even though he may not want the going to be too fast. Assertive, who was behind Bygone Days at Goodwood, has won at today's level this season but has a penalty to carry as a consequence. Eisteddfod may ideally appreciate cut in the going but he comes out pretty well on the ratings, while his second run in only a year saw Jack Sullivan bounce back to winning form at Warwick last time. His best form of 2006 would bring him right into things. Racer Forever was also behind Bygone Days at Goodwood, so maybe has a bit to find now, but he finished ahead of Jack Sullivan - who has improved since - and Royal Power, who does not seem as good as he once was, at York on August 23. Vanderlin got back to winning ways at Chester last time and, at his best, can compete at this level, while Thousand Words, who has not been disgraced in Group company this season, is a strong representative from the three-year-old generation. Finally, Ivory Lace has had a tremendous season but needs to find improvement on today's terms if she is going to win. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Bygone Days.
Assertive 12-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, driven, beaten over 2f out, 9th of 10, 3l behind Lovelace (8-9) at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Bygone Days 9-2 (8-13) Held up in rear, switched left over 2f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind Lovelace (8-9) at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Eisteddfod (9-1) Close up, disputing 2nd halfway, disputing lead final furlong, ridden 1f out, no extra and lost 3rd on line, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Garnica (9-5) at Deauville 6f Grp 3 (1) in Aug.
Racer Forever (USA) 7-2 (8-13) Held up last, plenty to do when switched left final 2f, not much room and switched right entering final furlong, stayed on, 7th of 10, 2l behind Lovelace (8-9) at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Royal Power (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 14, 5l behind Duff (9-0) at York 7f lst stk (1) gd in Aug.
Thousand Words 9-2 (8-8) Soon led, quickened over 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 5th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Pride of Nation (9-0) at Salisbury 1m Grp 3 (1) gs in Aug.
Jack Sullivan (USA) 11-10fav (8-11) Tracked leader, challenged over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on and always in command, won at Warwick 7f stk (4) gf in Aug beating Candidato Roy (8-11) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Vanderlin 16-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, just held on, all out, won at Chester 1m hcap (2) gf beating Laa Rayb (8-11) by a shd, 15 ran.
