chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened rapidly 3f out
held up towards rear, headway far side of group chasing leaders 2f out, soon ridden, weakened entering final furlong
led with rival, set strong pace and clear of rest, reduced lead halfway, headed over 2f out, weakened rapidly
keen in mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 2f ridden and unable to quicken inside final 2f, weakened inside final furlong
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden inside final 2f, soon weakened
chased clear leading pair, closed halfway, ridden and weakened 2f out
held up in last pair, smooth headway near side of group 2f out, chased winner and edged left over 1f out, led and hung left inside final furlong, headed towards finish, kept on
prominent in chasing group, closed halfway, led over 2f out, ridden and narrowly headed inside final furlong, rallied to lead again towards finish
took keen hold, hung left most of way, held up towards rear, never involved
pressed leader and clear of rest until halfway, lost 2nd inside final 3f, weakened quickly over 2f out
sweating, held up towards rear, headway far side of group chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, kept on into 3rd towards finish
never travelled with any fluency and pushed along to hold place in chasing group, closed halfway, pressed winner and every chance 2f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, dropped to 4th towards finish
Aidan O’Brien runs four led by Group 2 Beresford Stakes winner and the current favourite for next year's Derby, Saxon Warrior. Seahenge won the Champagne Stakes here and is preferred to stablemates The Pentagon and Coat Of Arms but the unbeaten ROARING LION got the better of the Ballydoyle-trained Nelson to win the Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket last month. John Gosden’s colt should make a bold bid on that form with further progress expected. Verbal Dexterity has every chance having landed the Group 1 National Stakes for Jim Bolger over 7f at the Curragh last time and he’s preferred to the Listed winner at Haydock, Chilean. Novice winners Loxley and Gabr are upped in class for powerful yards but both have plenty to find along with the remainder.
Alfa McGuire (IRE) 25-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 7th of 22, 4 1/4l behind Laugh A Minute (8-12) at Doncaster 7f stks (2) gs in Sep.
Chilean 6-1 (9-2) Held up in touch, switched outside 2f out, driven and headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, quickened clear final 110 yards, impressive, won at Haydock 1m lst stks (1) hvy in Sep beating Learn By Heart (9-2) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Coat Of Arms (IRE) Evensfav (9-0) Took keen hold in touch, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, went 2nd and one pace inside final furlong, no extra in 3rd post, 3rd of 15, 1 3/4l behind Thrave (9-0) at Newmarket 7f mdn stks (4) gs in Sep.
Gabr 4-9fav (9-2) Tracked leader, led entering final furlong, pushed out, won at Yarmouth 1m stks (4) gs in Sep beating Istanbul Sultan (9-2) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Loxley (IRE) 5-4fav (9-2) Dwelt soon recovered in touch, pushed along over 3f out, not clear run over 2f out, switched left approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, joined winner post, won at Goodwood 1m 1f stks (4) sft in Oct beating Istanbul Sultan (9-2), 6 ran.
Merlin Magic 8-1 (9-5) Made all, clear over 4f out, ridden inside final furlong, held on well, won at Nottingham 1m mdn stks (4) gs in Oct beating Sam Gold (9-5) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Roaring Lion (USA) 11-4 (9-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and hung badly left inside final furlong, just held on, won at Newmarket 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Sep beating Nelson (9-0) by nk, 5 ran.
Saxon Warrior (JPN) 5-6fav (9-3) Tracked leader, travelling smoothly straight, on terms from 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, soon asserted and stayed on well, won at Naas 1m Grp 2 stks (1) sft in Sep beating Delano Roosevelt (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Seahenge (USA) 9-1 (9-1) Steadied start, in rear, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong to go 3rd near finish, 3rd of 9, 5l behind U S Navy Flag (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Theobald (IRE) 33-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 9, 9 1/4l behind U S Navy Flag (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
The Pentagon (IRE) 4-11fav (9-3) Soon raced in 3rd, pushed along into straight, wandered slightly under 2f out, 2nd 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Jul beating Theobald (9-3) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Verbal Dexterity (IRE) 5-2 (9-3) Led early, close up, on terms halfway, soon led, joined 2f out, led again inside final furlong and stayed on best to quickly assert, won at Curragh 7f Grp 1 stks (1) Soft - Heavy in Sep beating Beckford (9-3) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
