raced centre in touch, effort approaching final furlong, kept on one pace
raced stand side tracked winner, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
led stand side trio, in touch, headway to lead overall over 1f out, ridden and ran on
raced centre overall leader and soon clear, ridden and hung right to stand side entering final 2f, headed over 1f out, kept on one pace
raced stand side in touch, ridden and no impression over 2f out, kept on final furlong, not pace to challenge
raced centre chased clear leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
raced centre in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace
raced centre in touch, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
With the exception of Star Of Missouri this looks tough to call. EXOTIC GUEST will need to improve to take up a couple of fancy entries but he had a subsequent winner behind when runner-up on fast ground at Newmarket last time and gets a tentative vote to go one better. His form looks stronger than Darkening's second at Warwick, though Black Monk has leading claims on his earlier maiden win at Chester. There was cut in the ground when Al Mukhdam scored at Newcastle and also when Reliant Robin won over 6f at Lingfield while Jumeirah Moon is only a winner on Fibresand so French Press is preferred.
Exotic Guest 7-2 (9-0) Pulled hard close up in 4th, ridden 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Lazarus Bell (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Aug.
Reliant Robin (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, headway entering final furlong, soon switched left, led inside final furlong, soon joined, ran on, won at Lingfield 6f 2yo mdn aut (6) gs in Jun beating Super Simon (9-3) by ns, 13 ran.
Darkening (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Pulled hard, led, hung badly right on bend and headed over 3f out, ridden 2f out, hung right to stands rail entering final furlong, kept on, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Secretinthepark (9-3) at Warwick 7f 2yo mdn (5) gf in Aug.
Black Monk (IRE) 6-4fav (9-13) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, went close 2nd over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 7l behind Aint Got A Scooby (8-6) at Salisbury 7f hcp 0-75 2yo (5) sft in Aug.
Al Mukhdam 5-4fav (9-3) Close up, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Newcastle 7f 2yo mdn (5) gs in Aug beating Mister Marcasite (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
French Press (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) With leader, ridden and every chance from 2f out, led briefly inside final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Hoarding (9-7) at Lingfield 7f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Jumeirah Moon 7-4fav (9-3) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to go 2nd post, not reached winner, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Ronaldinho (9-3) at Kempton 6f 2yo hco 0-75 (5) pol in Aug.
Star Of Missouri 33-1 (9-3) Took keen hold, soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 11, 12l behind Etijaah (9-3) at Sandown 7f 2yo mdn (5) gd in Aug.
