steadied start held up, pushed along and hung right over 2f out, kept on final furlong, not trouble leades
led early, tracked leaders, effort entering final 2f, weakened final furlong
in touch, headway 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, one pace final furlong
in touch, headway over 1f out, ridden to press winner inside final furlong, ran on, just held
raced wide close up, pushed along 3f out, stayed one pace final furlong
headway on outer to track winner after 2f, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
dwelt in rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
made most, ridden over 1f out, driven and ran on when pressed inside final furlong
Western Hymn bids to repeat last year’s success but is penalised 5lb this time round having won the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester back in May. Connecticut will likely improve on only his second start since 2015 but will need to given he finished a long way behind BEST OF DAYS (NAP) at Newmarket last time. The latter finished third to stablemate Frontiersman, rated 117, on that occasion and should go close today with a similar effort. Dylan Mouth finally won outside of Italy when scoring at Haydock earlier but it was business as usual when well beaten in the Arc Trial at Newbury on his latest start but Red Verdon and Soldier In Action are others with a shout at the weights, though need to step up on recent form to figure.
Western Hymn 12-1 (9-7) Dwelt raced wide held up, ridden and weakened 2f out, 10th of 11, 16 3/4l behind Best Solution (8-12) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Connecticut 7-1 (9-5) Held up in last pair, steady headway over 3f out, ridden and no impression in 4th when hung left inside final furlong, lost 4th close home, 5th of 7, 10 1/2l behind Frontiersman (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stks (1) gs in Sep.
Dylan Mouth (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, never a factor, 10th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Desert Encounter (9-3) at Newbury 1m 3f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Red Verdon (USA) 8-1 (9-3) 2nd early, tracked leaders, led over 1f out, driven and headed inside final furlong, 3rd and held close home, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Victory Bond (9-3) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f stks (3) pol in Oct.
Soldier In Action (FR) 10-1 (9-10) Tracked leader over 1f, stayed in touch, ridden over 3f out, soon lost place and not much room, well beaten final 2f, 6th of 7, 7 1/4l behind Blakeney Point (9-2) at Leicester 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Best Of Days 8-1 (8-12) Held up last, never on terms dwelt, soon 3rd in main group, 2nd in group over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Frontiersman (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stks (1) gs in Sep.
Crimson Rock (USA) 12-1 (8-13) Dwelt, held up, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 10th of 13, 27 1/4l behind Chain Of Daisies (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f lst fll stks (1) gd in Oct.
Titi Makfi (8-7) 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Ostana (9-0) at Hannover 1m 3f in Oct.