held up, headway 4f out, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, weakened final furlong
soon led, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on
held up, headway 4 out, led 2 out, fading when headed line
in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure to lead line
held up, ridden and headway halfway, weakened over 3f out
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 3f out
in touch, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 1f out
with leader, ridden and weakened 4f out
held up, ridden 6f out, plugged on one pace
Knightsbridgelives is selected to take the scalps of Gemini Ahhs and Go Johnny Go. Alan King's stable are yet to be in full flight but at the likely odds, it could be worth chancing his Taipan gelding against the field in the finale. Sent off a 5/2 favourite on bottomless going at Uttoxeter, he had clearly shown something at home prior to his debut and while his performance was ultimately disappointing, he may be worth another chance. Gemini Ahhs finished second to the well-touted Hellfire Club at Stratford on introduction. The race possibly wasn't the strongest of events and the breeding suggests that more time might see him at his optimum. Go Johnny Go ran a solid introduction at Haydock in testing conditions. His stable are sending out winners from their few horses that are arriving at the tracks. Louvil has an interesting pedigree as a French/American cross. The market is watched closely. Malmoos is tried in a first time tongue-strap while Lord Crewe, who was knocked down for 80000gns at the sales, is a Sinndar gelding who did show a modicum of improvement between his two runs thus far. As ever market information can tell us plenty but in the absence of it, Knightsbridgelives is put forward as our pick in the last.
Flight Dream (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Rear of mid-division, kept on same pace under pressure straight, 10th of 18, 25l behind Phoenix Run (11-9) at Killarney 2m 1f nhf gd in May.
Gemini Ahhs (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Prominent, driven along from over 7f out, outpaced over 5f out, stayed on to go 2nd over 1f out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Hellfire Club (10-7) at Stratford 2m mdn nhf (4) gf in Jun.
Go Johnny Go (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) 6th of 10, 18l behind Greenbridge (11-5) at Taunton 2m 1f nhf (6) sft in Jan.
Knightsbridgelives (IRE) 5-2fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 6f, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 12, 38l behind Ashby Jo (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) hvy in Jul.
Lord Crewe (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 5f out, plugged on, 4th of 12, 8l behind Outlandish (11-0) at Lingfield 2m nhf (6) gf in Sept.
Louvil (FR) Loup Solitaire gelding out of Steel Ville.
Magical Island 9-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out, 10th of 15, 29l behind Covert Mission (10-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (6) gf in Apr.
Malmoos (USA) 20-1 (10-3) Prominent until halfway, 9th of 14, 16l behind Kavatcha (10-8) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn nhf (5) sft in Jan.
Pikasso (FR) Sleeping Car gelding, half-brother to winning miler Rosengeste and jumper L'Oiseau.
Saucy Jack 10-1 (11-7) Bhnd til pulled up in race won by Letsplay (12-0) at Bonvilston 3m ptp gf in Apr, 9 ran.
Drumroe 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden and steady progress over 5f out, stayed on final furlong, never troubled leaders, 4th of 15, 21l behind Lesmoir (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Aug.
Raysrock (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Held up, mid-division, ridden over 4f out, outpaced 2f out, soon edged left, 8th of 12, 14l behind Simonside (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Sept.