dwelt towards rear, wide and headway entering final 2f, soon led, ridden clear, eased close home
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, nearest finish
led 1f, led again 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased
close up, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace
tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to lead 2f out, soon headed, kept on one pace
raced wide in touch, headway to track leaders 8f out, pushed along and lost place over 3f out, tailed off
in rear, never on terms
raced wide in touch, ridden 2f out, not trouble leaders
led after 1f, headed 5f out, led again over 2f out, soon headed, weakened final furlong
very slowly away, raced wide in rear, weakened over 2f out
Gold Arch won over 1m4f here in September and has switched yards subsequently. Elhafei won over 1m5f at Lingfield recently and there may be more to come over this extra distance but RED SECRET is preferred. The latter scored easily over 2m on last week’s reappearance but also won over course and distance last year and will likely be raised by more than today’s 5lb penalty in the future. Accessor remains 7lb higher than when last successful and Penny Poet looks more favourably treated returning to the Flat while King's Counsel goes handicapping for the first time and may improve.
Gold Arch 3-1fav (9-7) Ridden leaving stalls, headway 10f out, went 2nd 8f out, led 2f out, edged left over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Sep beating Forbidden Dance (9-7) by 2l, 12 ran.
King's Counsel 40-1 (9-2) Raced keenly, held up in 5th, headway on outside chasing leaders 5f out, ridden on outer 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 9 3/4l behind Pianissimo (9-2) at Chelmsford City 1m 5f stks (5) pol in Oct.
Red Secret (CAN) 7-4fav (9-8) Held up towards rear, good headway on wide outside tracking leaders 4f out, led over 2f out, came clear soon after, easily, won at Kempton 2m hcp (6) pol in Jun beating Doubly Clever (9-5) by 9 1/2l, 12 ran.
Accessor (IRE) 15-2 (9-5) In touch in mid-division, effort 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 8 1/4l behind Le Musee (9-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Jun.
Elhafei (USA) 16-1 (9-3) Held up, wide and headway to go close up 6f out, chased leader 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp (6) pol in Jun beating Nafaayes (9-4) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Jamacho 28-1 (9-7) Led, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Seaport (9-12) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Penny Poet (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, some headway after 3 out, no impression, weakened well before not fluent 2 out, 9th of 11, dist behind Miranda (10-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gs in Mar.
Gripper 100-1 (8-2) Held up in rear, shaken up 3f out, no impression, 8th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Colony Queen (8-11) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Card High (IRE) 100-1 (9-3) Prominent, led narrowly over 7f out, headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 12, 10 3/4l behind Le Musee (9-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Jun.
Just Once 12-1 (9-2) Very slowly away in rear, never on terms, 12th of 14, 12 3/4l behind Corked (9-8) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
