held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden entering final furlong, led inside final furlong, kept on well
tracked leaders, stayed on inside final furlong
held up mid-division on outer, one pace final furlong
slowly into stride, in rear, headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, stayed on inside final furlong, took 2nd towards finish
held up towards rear, kept on final furlong
with leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon weakened
held up in rear, faltered over 2f out
led, headed over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
BABY STRANGE could represent a bit of value in this handicap and he takes preference over Euston Square and Highly Regal. The selection has yet to win on the all-weather, but he showed enough here last time to make him a leading light. He does tend to run well in big fields and from a good draw Derek Shaw's 5-year-old can run a big race. Euston Square is an unexposed colt and he won well enough at Leicester earlier in the month when he beat Contemplate. It remains to be seen how well treated he is on his handicap debut, he merits obvious respect. Highly Regal won over a mile here when last seen out and he does tend to reserve his best form for this venue. If fact five of his six career successes have come over a mile here, so the drop back to 7f is not ideal and on that basis we will take him on. Arachnophobia won well last time and he has to be respected on his follow-up bid from a good high draw. Captain Macarry is better than he showed last time, but in a race where a case can be made for plenty, we will side with Baby Strange as the choice.
Baby Strange 10-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden over 2f out, driven and stayed on to take 3rd well inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Bahamian Lad (8-12) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Desert Dreamer (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Held up, never dangerous, 6th of 13, 4l behind Kyllachy Star (8-12) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Captain Macarry (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, driven over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 14th of 28, 4 1/2l behind Advanced (8-12) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Highly Regal (IRE) 33-1 (8-6) Held up in touch, headway to chase leader over 1f out, ridden to lead inisde final furlong, ran on, won at Kempton 1m hcp (2) pol in Sep beating Tartan Gigha (9-5) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Euston Square 1-4fav (9-3) Held up in touch, led just over 1f out, ran on well, won at Leicester 7f 3yo mdn (5) gf beating Contemplate (8-12) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Classic Descent 16-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, always in rear, 14th of 17, 7l behind Esoterica (8-13) at Newmarket 7f hcp 105 (2) gd.
Thief of Time (IRE) 15-2 (9-1) Close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Intense (9-0) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Sep.
Dubai Meydan (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, not clear run over 2f out, clipped heels, stumbled and unseated rider well over 1f out, in a race won by Dance And Dance (8-12) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol, 12 ran.
Arachnophobia (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Soon chasing leader, driven to challenge from 2f out, stayed on under pressure to lead final 75 yards, won at Kempton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Sep beating Tamasou (8-10) by nk, 14 ran.
Brunelleschi 16-1 (8-8) Behind, hung right throughout, never dangerous, 15th of 17, 7l behind Even Bolder (8-0) at Ascot 5f app hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
I Confess 7-1 (8-13) Soon led, driven and headed just inside final furlong, no extra, 7th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Ravi River (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Toto Skyllachy 33-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders on outside, challenged over 2f out, slight lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Dance And Dance (8-12) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Dukes Art 7-4fav (9-6) Held up behind, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, every chance towards finish, just held, 2nd of 7, ns behind Audemar (9-4) at Kempton 7f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Aug.
