led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders and keen, led 2f out, headed 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader, led final furlong, driven out
held up in rear, headway 2f out, every chance entering final furlong, not quicken
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace
Nonrunner
WELLS LYRICAL can take this drop in trip in his stride and get the better of the likes of Amanda Carter and Quai D'Orsay. The topweight has enjoyed a fine season, finding one too strong in two valuable handicaps before finishing third in a Listed race at Sandown last time. He does need a strong pace to show his best but the straight here will play to his strengths. Amanda Carter demolished the field over course and distance twelve days ago from a 12lb lower mark. That was hugely impressive but it remains to be seen whether she can justify her revised perch. Tilt is capable of playing a hand from his current mark but Carte Diamond remains best watched unless he attracts support. Hunting Tower made much of the running when finishing fifth behind Amanda Carter last time and he'll hopefully inject the pace into this race along with Quai D'Orsay. The Johnston runner has been comfortably held the last twice but has been dropped a total of 4lbs and he may well bounce back. Dazzling Light ran on to finish third behind Amanda Carter so has claims of reversing the form at the weights so is another that enters calculations but Wells Lyrical earns our vote despite concerns as to whether there's sufficient pace in the race to enable him to show his best.
Wells Lyrical (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Tracked leading pair to 9f out, stayed handy, driven into moderate 3rd over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Desert Sea (9-0) at Sandown 2m Listed stks (1) gd in Jul.
Amanda Carter 6-1 (8-10) Held up in touch, went 2nd over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, won at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Sep beating Demolition (9-8) by 8l, 11 ran.
Quai d'Orsay 3-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, soon ridden, edged left and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 9l behind Precision Break (9-10) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep.
Hunting Tower 7-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 11, 12l behind Amanda Carter (8-10) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Sep.
King's Head (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Held up towards rear, some headway over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 7, 21l behind Ascendant (9-12) at Musselburgh 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Sep.
Dazzling Light (UAE) 3-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on well, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Spirit of Adjisa (10-1) at Chester 1m 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Sep.
Tilt 14-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, raced keenly and soon mid-division, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, kept on same pace final 2f no impression, 6th of 17, 6l behind Som Tala (8-8) at Newcastle 2m hcap (2) sft in Jun.
Carte Diamond (USA) 20-1 (10-0) Mid-division on outer, soon chasing leaders until weakened well over 2f out, 9th of 11, 10l behind Cosmic Sun (8-11) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Jul.
Circus Clown (IRE) 22-1 (8-9) Held up in rear, ridden over 4f out, no impression, 6th of 8, 11l behind Arty Crafty (8-11) at Hamilton 1m 3f app hcp (6) gd in Sep.
