slowly into stride, held up in rear, smooth headway on stands rail to lead just inside final furlong, comfortably
held up in touch, pushed along 2f out, ridden and every chance 1f out, kept on same pace, took 2nd last strides
with leader, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened just over 1f out
always close up, ridden and every chance 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed just inside final furlong, not quicken, lost 2nd last strides
Bless Him is starting to look better handicapped and could go close but SMILE A MILE may prove one of those Mark Johnston horses who will continue to progress throughout the campaign as he was better than ever when making all to score at Pontefract recently and will probably set out again to make all in typical Johnston fashion. Solid Stone was back to form at Sandown and it's reasonable to expect that he'll build on that here as the drop to a mile at the Esher track appeared to suit the Shamardal colt. Arigato looks best of the other three after getting back to winning ways at Newmarket and is only 1lb higher here.
Bless Him (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Always behind, 12th of 16, 9 1/2l behind Fayez (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Solid Stone (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed final 110 yards, plugged on, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Maamora (9-2) at Sandown 1m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Smile A Mile (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Made all, shaken up over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Pontefract 1m hcp (3) gd in Aug beating Dalaalaat (9-1) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Balgair 8-1 (9-12) Close up in rear, switched right 5f out, ridden 2f out, no impression, last of 5, 3 1/4l behind Arigato (9-6) at Newmarket 1m hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Arigato 11-2 (9-6) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven out, won at Newmarket 1m hcp (3) gf in Jul beating Al Jellaby (10-0) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Michele Strogoff 9-2 (9-7) Led, edged right home bend and bumped, stayed on, headed close home, 2nd of 5, shd behind Secret Art (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Aug.
