raced wide, keen tracked leader, led 6f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace and lost 2nd inside final furlong
took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out
rider removed blind late, slowly into stride, in rear, headway 2f out, never nearer
raced wide, in touch, ridden and weakened 2f out
mid-division, smooth headway to track leaders 3f out, ridden 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, never able to challenge
led, headed 6f out, tracked leader, led again over 1f out, edged right and ran on
slowly into stride, always in rear
The support Opera Cat attracted ahead of his debut suggests we can expect better but he's now disappointed backers twice so we'll look elsewhere, with the vote going to 71-rated CAPTIVATOR. James Fanshawe's filly ran really well when switched to the Polytrack at Kempton, especially considering she was extremely slowly away and still showed signs of inexperience, and a repeat of that would be close to good enough. We expect her to improve and take this from stall one, possibly at the expense of Fun Affair who finished a never-nearer third on her debut at Yarmouth. She's from an exceptional US family and with William Buick taking over in the saddle rates a clear threat to Captivator. Music Maestro and Caracal both hold ratings of 68 and both have gone well enough on artificial surfaces to merit consideration but they are exposed and may once again settle for minor honours.
Blues Jazz 25-1 (8-13) Dwelt in rear, raced centre, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, no impression, 7th of 9, 9l behind Ballarina (8-13) at Newcastle 5f mdn stks (5) gd.
Feuergott (GER) Eden Rock colt out of Francisca.
Caracal 6-1 (8-7) Mid-division, headway 4f out, led approaching 2f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind High Resolution (8-12) at Hamilton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jul.
Music Maestro (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Led 1f, chased leader until 5f out, stayed in 3rd until hard ridden over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Whispering Spirit (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Aug.
Opera Cat (USA) 8-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, weakened 3f out, last of 11, well behind Bella Noir (8-12) at Newcastle 7f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gs in Aug.
Ring Of Fire 66-1 (9-3) Mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 16l behind Valid Reason (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Shut Up Shapiro (IRE) 66-1 (9-3) In rear, outpaced, last of 9, 14l behind Veni Vedi Veci (8-12) at Leicester 1m 3yo mdn aut (5) gf in May.
Alioonagh (USA) 7-2 (9-0) Keen, led, headed over 4f out, ridden 2f out, keeping on one pace when carried right inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 11l behind Hamloola (9-0) at Yarmouth 7f 3yo fll stks (5) gs in Aug.
Alnaseem (USA) 8-1 (9-0) Chased leaders near rail, going for gap when squeezed out 5f out, stayed in touch until pushed along halfway, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, eased over 1f out, 8th of 9, 20l behind Starclass (9-0) at Salisbury 7f 3yo fll mdn (5) gf in Jun.
Captivator 14-1 (8-12) Hampered start, behind, headway into mid-division 4f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Conciliatory (8-12) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Aug.
Fun Affair (USA) 14-1 (9-0) In rear, headway over 1f out, staying on when carried right inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Hamloola (9-0) at Yarmouth 7f 3yo fll stks (5) gs in Aug.
Strong Aim 66-1 (8-12) Dwelt, always behind, last of 15, 39l behind Mainland (9-11) at Ripon 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gd in Aug.
