quickly away, soon steadied into mid-division, headway 2f out, switched right over 1f out, over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to lead well inside final furlong
held up towards rear, not clear run and switched left inside final 2f, soon ridden and no impression
mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders far side of group chasing leaders over 2f out, soon ridden to challenge, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway tracking leaders far side of group over 3f out, went 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, went 2nd halfway until over 3f out, weakened quickly over 2f out, soon behind
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened 2f out
tracked leader, led after 2f, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
raced keenly towards rear, headway near side of group over 1f out, soon ridden and hung left, plugged on
always towards rear, never on terms
held up in rear, never involved
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left and weakened inside final furlong
led 2f, tracked leader until halfway, handy 3rd, 2nd again over 3f out, led again over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, rider dropped reins and headed inside final furlong, plugged on in 3rd
chased leaders out wide, pushed along over 3f out, weakened 2f out
NonRunner
Baryshnikov finally got off the mark at Chester last month and followed up at Ayr 11 days ago. He has to go on the shortlist and the maiden War Defender, who has placed five times this year, should appreciate the step up in trip. Cardano’s latest run at Newbury again suggested he doesn’t stay 1m4f and he will have his optimum conditions here. Several of the others, including Finoah and La Trinidad, have the form to figure but VALYRIAN STEEL is taken to improve further and complete the hat-trick, despite struggling to land the odds at Beverley last month when still showing signs of inexperience.
Marronnier (IRE) 4-1 (9-11) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Breath Caught (9-12) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Good Birthday (IRE) 20-1 (8-4) Slow into stride in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 8th of 27, 8 1/4l behind Majestic Dawn (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Cardano (USA) 4-1 (9-9) Close up, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 7, 22l behind Union (8-8) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Valyrian Steel (IRE) 2-7fav (9-9) Chased leader, travelled powerfully, joined leader 2f out and soon ridden disputing lead 1f out, hard-ridden and led final 110 yards, won at Beverley 1m 2f stks (5) gd in Sep beating Ricksen (9-2) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Fishable 22-1 (8-11) Always in rear, weakened over 3f out, tailed off, last of 14, dist behind Coltrane (8-8) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Mandarin (GER) 9-1 (9-10) Ridden leaving stalls, towards rear, modest headway over 1f out, no chance, 5th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Iffraaz (9-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Poet's Dawn 16-1 (9-5) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakening when hampered over 1f out, 12th of 19, 14 1/4l behind Mr Carpenter (9-0) at York 1m 2f hcp stks (3) gd in Sep.
Finoah (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 3 1/4l behind Snow Ocean (9-5) at Chester 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
La Trinidad 11-2 (8-5) In touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Matthew Flinders (8-9) at Doncaster 1m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Society Red 9-2fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge 3f out, ridden 2f out, led 1f out, kept on well, won at Chester 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Mr Coco Bean (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Sucellus 10-3jfav (9-12) Dwelt in rear, pushed along 3f out, kept on, nearest finish, 5th of 9, 6l behind Baryshnikov (9-7) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Baryshnikov 10-3jfav (9-7) Held up, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Ayr 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Granite City Doc (9-3) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Music Seeker (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Tracked winner until ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 11, 10 3/4l behind Glen Force (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
War Defender 8-1 (8-8) Keen tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Tom Collins (8-13) at Pontefract 1m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Archie Perkins (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 8 3/4l behind Victory Chime (9-10) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Sep.
