soon led, hung left on bend 5f out, ridden and in command final furlong, all out near finish
chased winner, driven to challenge 2f out, held and no impression when lost 2nd inside final furlong
n touch, pushed along over 2f out, soon well behind
took keen hold early, chased leaders in 4th, pushed along 3f out, one pace final 2f
mid-division, headway on wide outside over 2f out, hung badly left just inside final 2f, soon straightened and stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong
slowly into stride, held up, pushed along over 3f out, soon outpaced
slowly away, always in rear, pushed along and struggling 4f out
chased leaders, pushed along 4f out, stayed on same pace final 2f
towards rear, wide on bend 5f out, well behind final 3f, tailed off
BEAUCHAMP XERXES is the only one here to have an official rating, and he's running off a mark of 100, mainly due to being runner up in a listed race in his penultimate race, and he carries our support ahead of Awesome Surprise and the Hannon debutant Gearbox. The draw is a positive for Gerard Butler's gelding, who was last of 12 in the group 2 King Edward Vll, after refusing to settle properly. He's run better since, and in this sort of company if running to his ability, he's well capable of winning it. He hasn't got any more fancy entries at the moment, but a drop in class to this level will tell us a lot more about him. Favourites have a good record in this contest, although a Jeremy Noseda outsider won it last year, and it wouldn't be an Awesome Surprise if he landed the spoils again. Fourth on debut, she cost $400,000 and is a sister to a Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner. She's entitled to come on for her first outing, and the yard are in fabulous form. Gearbox, along with Mydy Easy and Be Kind are seeing a course for the first time. He could be anything, and the yard's runners usually need a run or two, but Hannon is peerless when it comes to findig winners of maidens at Windsor. Any support should be noted. However we'll side with experience and Beauchamp Xerxes.
Beauchamp Xerxes 3-1 (9-3) Keen, mid-division, ridden and outpaced approaching 2f out, kept on final furlong, 8th of 13, 5l behind Blizzard Blues (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (3) gd in Jul.
El Libertador (USA) 10-1 (9-3) Led for 1f, tracked leaders, led over 2f out, soon headed and one pace after, 4th of 14, 7l behind Fanunalter (9-3) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol.
Legend Of Greece (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Dwelt, soon ridden and trailing, always behind, 15th of 39, 43l behind Luminous Eyes (8-12) at Roscommon 7f 2yo mdn sft in Jul '08.
Mydy Easy (USA) Speightstown gelding out of Eze.
Awesome Surprise (USA) 6-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 12, 6l behind In Footlights (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 3yo mdn (4) gf in Jun.
Ban Garda (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) 4th of 11, 1l behind Dabirana (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 2yo mdn fll stks pol in Oct.
Be Kind Generous filly out of Aquavita.
Countrystyle Lass (IRE) 66-1 (8-12) In touch, effort 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 10, 12l behind Block Party (9-3) at Windsor 1m 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gd in Jul.
One Cool Dream 20-1 (8-12) Behind, headway 2f out, in touch, pushed along, weakened inside final furlong, better for race, 7th of 12, 4l behind Aim To Achieve (8-12) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (4) pol in Jun.
Welsh Passion 66-1 (9-0) Soon outpaced, always behind, last of 11, well behind Purple Sage (9-0) at Chester 7f 2yo stks (4) gf in Sep.
Gearbox (IRE) Tillerman gelding out of Persian Empress.
