tracked leaders, ridden and lost place over 3f out
soon led, ridden and under pressure over 2f out, headed 1f out, stayed on towards finish
held up, good headway on outer over 3fout, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, driven out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace
held up, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
led early, chased leader, challenged over 2f out, ridden and not quicken inside final furlong
Emirates Skyline is preferred here to Northern Splendour and Dickensian. The selection looks to have everything in his favour today after an encouraging reappearance effort at Newbury last time behind Blue Ksar. His yard are in great form, the extra furlong will suit and so will the cut in the ground so he should take plenty of beating. Northern Splendour has been off the track for over two years but he did win well when last seen at Nottingham and he is bred to be suited by this step-up in trip. Dickensian ran well enough behind Aeroplane last time but he looks the stable second-string here and for the winner we are happy to stick with the progressive Emirates Skyline.
Grand Passion (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, 18l behind Tam Lin (8-6) at Windsor 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug.
Northern Splendour (USA) 7-2 (9-4) Made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Nottingham 1m nov stk (D) gd in Aug '04 beating In The Fan (9-2) by 2l, 7 ran.
Ofaraby 100-1 (9-1) Behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, never reached leaders, 11th of 33, 13l behind Formal Decree (8-9) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gs in Sept.
Hunters' Glen (USA) 7-4 (9-7) Held up, headway over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Steppe Dancer (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) pol in Aug.
Dickensian (IRE) 3-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, every chance over 2f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Aeroplane (9-0) at Southwell 7f 3yo stk (3) gd in Sept.
Emirates Skyline (USA) 9-2 (8-6) Behind, headway from 2f out, driven to chase winner inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Blue Ksar (8-6) at Newbury 1m 1f stk (3) gd in Sept.
Undeterred 10-1 (8-10) Reared as stalls opened, fly jumped start, lost 20 lengths, not recover, last of 8, 36l behind Ardea Brave (8-13) at Kempton 1m 4f app hcp (4) pol in Sept.