raced in centre, chased leaders, ridden to lead inside final 2f, strongly pressed close home, just held on, all out
raced in centre, chased leader, every chance 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
raced in centre, held up, headway 2f out, chased leaders edging left inside final furlong, strong challenge close home, just failed
raced in centre, held up, headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
raced towards near side, slowly away, held up well off the pace in last pair, headway edging left from 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, strong challenge close home, just failed
raced towards near side, slight lead overall until headed 3f out, weakened inside final 2f
raced near side, held up well off the pace in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on into never nearer 4th last 100 yards
raced towards near side, prominent, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
raced towards near side, held up, not clear run and switched left inside final 2f, never reached leaders and weakened final furlong
raced in centre, led group until led overall 3f out, headed inside final 2f, chased winner until inside final furlong, weakened final 100 yards
raced in centre, held up and behind, pushed along 3f out, headway chasing leaders 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
raced in centre, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
raced centre, restless in stalls, always behind
raced in centre, switched right after start, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
raced towards near side, chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, soon weakened quickly, behind and eased final 2f
This is wide open with a tentative vote going to VON BLUCHER to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Ascot having won a higher grade handicap at Newmarket on his penultimate start. It remains to be seen if Muntadab copes with a 6lb rise for winning at Thirsk a fortnight ago though he is still preferred to stablemate Cornwallville while Pastoral Player has been thereabouts since scoring at Goodwood in June and makes more appeal than stable companion Baltic Brave, who was behind runner-up Carnival King at HQ last time. Gunmetal narrowly beat Dollar Reward at Newmarket in June but both have been beaten subsequently while Valley of Fire has failed to build on his earlier second at York and Ower Fly is upped in class.
Cornwallville (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Raced far side, dwelt, mid-division, switched right and headway over 2f out, never nearer, 8th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Kimberella (9-8) at York 6f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Muntadab (IRE) 9-2fav (9-11) Led, driven and headed over 1f out, stayed challenging, ran on inside final furlong, led again towards finish, won at Thirsk 7f hcp (3) gs in Jul beating George Cinq (10-0) by hd, 12 ran.
Charles Molson 25-1 (9-7) Raced far side, held up, in touch, in mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left under pressure inside final furlong, kept on, not pace to threaten leaders, 5th of 28, 2 1/2l behind Hoof It (9-9) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Pastoral Player 10-1 (9-8) Took keen hold, held up, towards rear, headway over 1f out, edged right and ran on inside final furlong, finished well, not reach leaders, 8th of 16, 1 3/4l behind Shady Mccoy (9-6) at Goodwood 7f hcp stks (3) gf in Jul.
Von Blucher (IRE) 3-1fav (9-2) Took keen hold, soon steadied in touch in mid-division, headway 2f out, not clear run and switched left soon after, ridden and not quicken over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 3l behind Mustashry (9-4) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Palawan 12-1 (9-2) Keen tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 6th of 8, 10 1/4l behind Von Blucher (8-8) at Newmarket 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Firmdecisions (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, on outside, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Goring (9-3) at Windsor 6f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Valley of Fire 7-1 (10-0) Close up, effort over 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, kept on on pace, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Dutch Law (9-11) at Newmarket 7f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Carnival King (IRE) 20-1 (9-6) Soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied to press winner inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 8, hd behind Alnashama (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Baltic Brave (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Held up, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Alnashama (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Gunmetal (IRE) 11-1 (8-8) Held up in touch, headway under pressure over 1f out, never able to challenge, 10th of 20, 3 3/4l behind Dancing Star (9-2) at Newmarket 6f hcp stks (2) gf in Jul.
Classic Seniority 33-1 (8-11) Raced far side, chased leaders, pushed along halfway, badly hampered inside final 2f, not clear run and switched right inside final furlong, kept on, 9th of 28, 4 1/2l behind Hoof It (9-9) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Ower Fly 16-1 (9-7) Made all, ridden 2f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, won at Salisbury 7f hcp (4) gf in Jul beating Musdam (9-7) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Air Of York (IRE) 8-1 (9-13) Tracked leader centre, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 6 3/4l behind Corporal Maddox (9-9) at Chepstow 7f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Dollar Reward 11-4 (9-3) Took keen hold, tracked leaders on outside, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, went 2nd final 100 yards but not pace of winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Fuwairt (9-7) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (4) pol in Jul.
Noble Peace 5-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Very Honest (9-4) at Goodwood 6f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
