raced wide, raced early, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
close up, pushed along over 2f out, slightly outpaced over 1f out, ridden and ran on close home
taken to post early, tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed final strides
led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened
towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
close up, headway 2f out, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, unable to quicken inside final furlong
held up, ridden 2f out, never a factor
slowly away, in rear, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, soon switched right, ran on to lead final strides
A Grade 1 winner in South Africa, YORKER (NAP) returned from a two-year absence with a fine effort at York on his debut for the Haggas yard. He found only Scottish, rated 113, too good in last month’s Strensall Stakes and is the one to beat on that form. Paul Hanagan prefers Ascot winner Mustashry to Muwaary while progressive handicapper Arcanada shares the same handicap mark as Dragon Mall, placed in Listed company earlier this year. Early Morning is another useful handicapper making his debut in pattern company and is preferred of the remainder.
Early Morning (IRE) 9-2fav (9-6) Led 1f, tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, led inside final furlong, headed near finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Aclaim (8-12) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Muwaary 6-4fav (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Forge (8-11) at Haydock 7f stks (3) gd in Sep.
Yorker (SAF) 14-1 (9-5) In rear and keen, headway over 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Scottish (9-5) at York 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Arcanada (IRE) 5-1cfav (9-6) Chased leaders, edged left halfway, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven out, won at York 1m hcp stks (2) gd in Aug beating Banksea (9-1) by 3/4l, 17 ran.
Dragon Mall (USA) 16-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, switched left over 1f out, going for gap when badly hampered and snatched up entering final furlong, stayed on well in closing stages, almost snatched 3rd but never able to challenge, 4th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Thikriyaat (9-1) at Goodwood 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Mustashry 5-1fav (8-11) Towards rear, pushed along 3f out, ridden and ran on strongly final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 20, 1/2l behind Firmament (8-13) at York 1m hcp stks (2) gf in Aug.
Starlit Cantata 16-1 (9-1) Steadied start and awkwardly away, held up last, headway hanging right from 2f out, switched left over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on into 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 5, 4 1/4l behind Rostova (9-6) at Goodwood 1m hcp fll stks (3) gd in Aug.
Quebee 9-2 (9-6) Held up in mid-division on inside, headway and switched right to rail over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, went 2nd and ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led final 100 yards, won going away, won at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp stks (3) gf in Aug beating Dawn Mirage (9-8) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.