tracked leaders in 3rd place, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 2nd place towards finish
held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, headway over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up towards rear, pushed along and weakened over 1f out
prominent, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on
held up towards rear, headway and not much room over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, every chance entering final furlong, kept on and lost 2nd place towards finish
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
Three-year-olds have won four of the last six renewals of this Listed race and Andrew Balding’s stable has been successful twice since 2011. Naval Warfare represents the Kingsclere trainer this year but the recent Newmarket scorer was more than 10 lengths behind D’BAI at Ascot in July and is now 10lb worse off. Charlie Appleby’s charge couldn’t quite haul back the first two in this grade in France last time but deserves a chance to recoup losses. Richard Pankhurst won a Group 2 last year but has got nowhere near that form in two starts this season. Kool Kompany is also out of sorts while course winner Laidback Romeo steps up from handicaps. Khafoo Shememi only beat Escobar a neck here in the spring and carries a penalty for that.
Kool Kompany (IRE) (9-6) 9th of 10, 8 1/2l behind Wonnemond (9-6) at Veliefendi 1m Grp 2 gs in Sep.
Hors De Combat 14-1 (9-8) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, pushed along and no headway when hung right over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, not quite pace to threaten, 4th of 13, 2 1/4l behind El Hayem (8-12) at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Laidback Romeo (IRE) 5-1 (9-12) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace in 3rd inside final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 10, 4 3/4l behind Brilliant Vanguard (8-12) at Ripon 1m hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Murad Khan (FR) 5-1 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 10th of 13, 5 1/4l behind Mustashry (9-10) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (2) pol in Aug.
Richard Pankhurst 7-1 (9-4) Held up in last pair, always behind, 5th of 6, 6 3/4l behind Lightning Spear (9-4) at Goodwood 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Khafoo Shememi (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Pressed leader until over 2f out, lost 2nd 2f out, chased leaders, weakened inside final 2f, last of 9, 9 1/2l behind Arabian Hope (8-6) at York 1m lst stks (1) gf in Jun.
D'bai (IRE) (9-2) 3rd of 9, 1/2l behind Miss Julia Star (8-12) at Bordeaux Le Bouscat 1m lst stks gd in Sep.
Escobar (IRE) 40-1 (8-9) Behind, outpaced over 2f out, never a threat, 15th of 18, 14 3/4l behind Talaayeb (8-6) at York 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Larchmont Lad (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Always in rear, last of 11, 16 1/4l behind Frankuus (8-9) at Haydock 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Aug.
Naval Warfare (IRE) 5-1 (9-6) Made all, switched right to race against stand side rail over 1f out, ran on well, won at Newmarket 1m hcp (2) gs in Aug beating Night Circus (9-5) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
