prominent on outer, driven along halfway, weakened over 2f out
slowly into stride, tracked wide throughout in mid-division, headway on outer 2f out, no impression
prominent, went 2nd halfway to over 3f out, weakened 2f out
led for 1f, tracked leader to 4f out, went 2nd again over 2f out, led 2f out, in command final furlong, driven out
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened 2f out
held up in rear, headway on wide outside over 1f out, chased leaders final furlong, ran on to take 2nd last stride
early reminders, behind, ridden halfway, headway on outside final furlong, never reached leaders
held up, pushed along 3f out, no chance when not clear run over 1f out
dwelt and reared start, soon recovered to chase leaders, ridden and not run on over 1f out
held up in rear, headway and squeezed through over 1f out, went 2nd near finish until last stride
pushed up to lead after 1f, ridden and narrowly headed 2f out, chased winner, no impression and lost 2nd near finish, weakened
soon ridden in mid-division, weakened and behind final 2f
It's competitive but the vote goes to Retirement, with others considered being, mainly, La Puce, Empire City and Jomus. Retirement has performed well from higher marks in the fairly-recent past and, in a race where many have something to prove on recent efforts, gets the call. Supreme Salutation would have a good chance on last year's form but more-recent efforts have proven fruitless. Cautiously is lightly raced but might have better to come on his all-weather debut having shown a modicum of promise. La Puce comes well into it on autumn form while, up in trip, Empire City holds claims, being from the canny Sir Mark Prescott yard. Jomus is capable of being very competitive from his current mark if near his best, while Oh Boy has yet to race on the surface, and Parkview Love has yet to excel on it, but Arrivato is a potential improver. Overall, though, having looked through this race, we have to seriously consider Retirement.
Jomus 10-1 (9-8) Slowly into stride, good headway 3f out, no extra from over 1f out, 7th of 20, 4 1/2l behind Jackie Kiely (9-12) at Brighton 1m 2f hcp (6) gd.
Oh Boy (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Prominent, ridden and weakened quickly halfway, 13th of 16, 28l behind Trevian (8-4) at Chepstow 1m hcp (5) gd.
Parkview Love (USA) 10-1 (8-10) Always towards the rear, 7th of 11, 8l behind Law Maker (8-7) at W'hampton 6f hcp (5) pol.
Retirement 8-1 (9-8) Slowly into stride, held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 13, 10l behind Nimello (10-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol in Jul.
Supreme Salutation 33-1 (7-11) Reared leaving stalls, held up in rear, brief effort on outer over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 13, 8l behind Banknote (9-1) at Windsor 1m hcp (4) gd.
Empire City (USA) 11-4 (9-0) Always in rear, 10th of 11, 12l behind Born For Dancing (8-9) at Beverley 5f mdn stk (5) gs.
Kristinor (FR) 12-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, soon pushed along in rear, never nearer, 8th of 14, 7l behind Bold Diktator (9-5) at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (5) gf.
Terenzium (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) In touch on far side until weakened 2f out, 14th of 19, 13l behind Wychbury (10-4) at Chepstow 1m ldy rds hcp (5) gd.
