held up, pushed along over 5f out, ridden and one pace final 2f
tracked leader, driven over 3f out, soon beaten
held up, driven over 7f out, tailed off over 3f out, pulled up over 2f out
ridden 2f out, kept on gamely final furlong
in touch, pushed along over 3f out, ridden to chase winner final 2f
behind, headway over 4f out, effort over 3f out, never near to challenge
The Nawab gets a narrow vote over Indian Pipe Dream, with Elusive Dream and Toldo likely to make their presence felt without being good enough. The Nawab has been in cracking form this season, winning three of his last four starts, including on soft ground at York last time when he displayed abundant stamina to score over 20 furlongs. He is very progressive, and will not mind this drop back in trip. Indian Pipe Dream has also been profitable to follow, and like the selection, has been victorious on three of his last four engagements. His one blip of late came against Group company in the Queen's Vase but that was no disgrace and he should run well, although he has to give half a stone to the selection. Elusive Dream was fifth in the Cesarewitch and this will be only his third outing of the campaign so he is fresher than most, but does have topweight. Don't Call Me Derek will be all the better for his pipe-opener here recently, and was pulled out of a race at Musselburgh on Thursday to wait for this, but he should be kept in mind when put back over hurdles. Toldo lines up in this instead of the November Handicap but needs to step up a gear, and our preference is for The Nawab.
Elusive Dream 11-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 34, 8l behind Sergeant Cecil (9-8) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Indian Pipe Dream (IRE) 3-1fav (9-5) Chased leader after 2f, ridden to lead over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, driven out, won at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Oct beating Fortune Island (9-13) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
The Nawab (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (8-2) In touch, headway to chase leader over 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven out, won at York 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct beating Dr Sharp (9-4) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Dont Call Me Derek 15-2 (8-8) Mid-division, driven over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 10, 29l behind Group Captain (8-5) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) hvy in Oct.
Toldo (IRE) 33-1 (8-10) In touch, headway to lead 5f out, clear 2f out, easily, won at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct beating Velvet Heights (8-10) by 14l, 13 ran.
Subtle Affair (IRE) 40-1 (8-5) Always in rear, last of 11, 24l behind Tarandot (9-0) at Yarmouth 1m 6f lst fll stk (1) hvy in Oct.
