mid-division, weakened over 2f out, modest 5th
held up in rear, under pressure over 2f out, soon beaten
settled in rear, headway over 2f out, soon wandered under pressure, hung right entering final furlong, kept on well, no chance with winner
tracked leader, hard ridden over 2f out, soon edged left, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, effort well over 2f out, edged right under pressure, short of room entering final furlong, no extra
made all, quickened clear over 3f out, ran on strongly, eased near finish
Nonrunner
This has been a tremendous race for Marcus Tregoning, who has won it four times in the past ten years. This year's entry, Hawaafez, looks certain to be competitive as she appeared to find 1m6f testing her stamina at Goodwood after a comfortable victory in a Newbury Listed contest. Songcraft's overall form doesn't quite look up to this standard but any further rain would certainly aid the cause of STARBOARD, who is handed the vote. John Gosden's filly will be tackling this trip for the first time but made all for a convincing success over 1m2f on soft ground at Longchamp last time and is progressing at a rate of knots. Willing Foe takes a big drop in trip after landing the Ebor before a decent run over 2m in a Group 3 at Longchamp. He's another who will enjoy cut in the ground while the selection's stablemate Camborne didn't quite get home in the Ebor after an impressive victory in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap over this C&D.
Allied Powers (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) 10th of 11, 7l behind Masterstroke (8-6) at Deauville(FR) 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gd in Aug.
Arrigo (GER) 5-1 (9-0) Led after 1f, reminders 5f out, headed 3f out, weakened from 2f out, 4th of 5, 21l behind Opera Gal (8-13) at Ayr 1m 2f Listed stks 3yo (1) hvy in Sep.
Camborne 11-2 (9-7) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 19, 4 1/2l behind Willing Foe (9-2) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Songcraft (IRE) 11-2 (9-4) Towards rear, switched left 7f out, headway over 2f out, soon chased leading pair, ridden and switched right 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Retrieve (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 4f Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Sep.
Willing Foe (USA) 10-3fav (8-11) 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Ivory Land (9-4) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 7f Grp 3 (1) gs in Sep.
Hawaafez 3-1fav (9-5) Led after 1f, set strong pace, going strongly 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, soon no extra in 4th, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Wild Coco (9-5) at Goodwood 1m 6f flls Group 3 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Midnight Soprano (IRE) 15-2 (9-5) In touch, headway over 3f out, disputing 2nd from 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 12, 10l behind Wild Coco (9-5) at Goodwood 1m 6f flls Group 3 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Starboard 3-1fav (9-2) won at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Sep beating Prince Mag (9-2) by 3l, 8 ran.
