soon chased leader until driven and weakened approaching 2 out
close up in 4th, slightly lost place on inside 4 out, driven and outpaced next, stayed on approaching 2 out, driven and kept on well flat, went 3rd near finish
mid-division, ridden, outpaced and struggling soon after 3 out
held up in mid-division, ridden and hit 3 out, weakened soon after
led, ridden and joined 2 out, headed before last, unable to quicken flat
chased leaders, pushed along 4 out, chased leader before 2 out, narrow lead briefly before last, soon headed, driven and unable to quicken flat
in touch, ridden and headway under pressure before 2 out, no impression soon after, hung left flat
pulled hard, held up towards rear, ridden and no headway after 3 out
held up in rear, shaken up approaching 2 out, some headway soon after but no impression last
took keen hold, held up towards rear, struggling after 3 out
held up in last pair, smooth headway after 3 out, challenged on bit 2 out, led going well last, driven out and kept on well flat
held up, always well in rear, struggling 3 out
This is the most competitive race of the afternoon where you can give a chance to most of the field, but preference is for KICKAHEAD, who has the winning habit, which his main rivals, Hibiki and Classic Swain, do not possess. Gee Dee Nen is respected, and this decent Flat performer will be fitter after running on the level during the summer, and he may be well treated. Classic Swain has been taking on some useful types and although he has not got his head in his last three starts he can go well here, though his rating for losing keeps rising. Hibiki is a rival to all, a winner on the Flat at Epsom in August, he ran a blinder to be a close third in a good contest at Market Rasen, and may have improved since last season. He will be sharper for that run. Kickahead may well have won his last four races but for unseating his rider at Stratford three outings ago. His latest win at Wetherby was achieved thanks to a good turn of foot. Despite racing off a 7lb higher rating here, he is once again ridden by his regular pilot, Oliver Greenall, who claims 3lbs. The combination will be receiving weight from their main rivals and Kickahead can do just that from the last flight.
Alsadaa (USA) 13-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, kept on well, driven out, won at Sandown 2m Lstd hdl (1) gd in Apr beating Gringo (11-0) by 8l, 8 ran.
Micheal Flips (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Mid-division, pushed along after 5th, headway approaching 7th, well there 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 17, 47l behind Bouggler (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Apr.
Classic Swain (USA) 4-1 (10-12) With leader, not fluent 3 out, led before 2 out, headed last, wandered and no chance with winner flat, always holding on for 2nd, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Starluck (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo hdl (2) gf.
Hibiki (IRE) 13-2 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, soon chasing winner until no extra flat, 3rd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Treaty Flyer (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sep.
Gee Dee Nen 5-6fav (11-7) Held up in rear, headway approaching 8th, chased winner 3 out, went right last, lost 2nd and weakened flat, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Shenanigan (10-9) at Ludlow 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Pascha Bere (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, driven and outpaced 4 out, soon outpaced, weakening when hit 2 out, 16th of 24, 38l behind Joe Jo Star (11-0) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in May.
Norman The Great 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division, pushed along when not fluent 5th, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, soon outpaced, stayed on flat, 4th of 15, 6l behind Mutual Friend (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf.
Wessex King (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway after 5th, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace from last, 2nd of 13, 1l behind King Brex (11-2) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Kickahead (USA) 5-4fav (11-2) Held up in rear and keen, not fluent 4 out, headway between last 2, led last, quickened flat, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf beating Elaala (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Pepporoni Pete (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, effort between last 2, kept on one pace, 3rd of 13, 2 3/4l behind Tritonville Lodge (11-6) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Dani's Girl (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, took good hold, headway 5th, led after 2 out, wandered last, ran on flat, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf beating Mesbaah (11-6) by 3l, 13 ran.
Dark Energy 11-2 (11-11) Mid-division, headway on inside when blundered 3 out, beaten after, 5th of 9, 7l behind Three Ships (10-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
