tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
held up, ridden over 2f out, never on terms
raced alone far side, prominent until over 2f out, soon weakened, tailed off
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, tailed off
slow into stride behind until recovered to rear 5f out, ridden 3f out, never a factor
towards rear, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headway inside, went 2nd close home
close up, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong
keen made all, ridden over 1f out, edged left and ran on final furlong
keen in touch, headway 3f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, one pace and lost 2nd close home
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out
outpaced and behind, ridden halfway, never on terms
A nightmare finale for punters. Three-year-olds just outnumber older horses but the latter group includes Hortzadar, who is back in the right grade today, and SAWWAAH. Jim Crowley’s mount kept finding more to beat Tulfaaris at Ascot four weeks ago and has ground conditions in his favour again. On a line through Tulfaaris, another Ascot winner Ebury is a danger still being unexposed. Severnaya definitely falls into that category making his handicap debut after wins at Newcastle and Chepstow but Alfred Boucher couldn’t cope with a further 6lb rise when on a four-timer at Sandown. Ouzo is on a roll and, despite a rise in grade, shouldn’t be dismissed and is preferred to stablemate Riviera Nights.
Waarif (IRE) 18-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, challenged over 3f out, hung right over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 5th of 20, 5 3/4l behind Escobar (9-6) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Battered 12-1 (8-11) Always behind, never a factor, last of 17, 15 1/4l behind Kynren (9-2) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Humbert (IRE) 40-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 15, 5 1/2l behind Crownthorpe (8-12) at York 1m hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Hortzadar 9-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 15, 5 1/4l behind Crownthorpe (8-12) at York 1m hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Gossiping 16-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, not much room on inside and lost place over 5f out, headway and switched right 2f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Intuitive (9-7) at Kempton 7f hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Sawwaah 9-1 (9-3) Overall leader towards stand side and raced alone until 5f out, ridden and pressed from over 1f out, stayed on gamely, won at Ascot 1m stks (3) sft in Oct beating Tulfarris (9-0) by hd, 10 ran.
Ebury 15-2 (8-12) Held up last, good headway centre of group 2f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Ascot 1m stks (3) gf in Sep beating Tulfarris (8-12) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Ouzo 13-8fav (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, led and edged left from over 1f out, stayed on well to draw clear inside final furlong, won at Newmarket 1m hcp (4) gd in Jun beating Balgair (10-0) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Hafeet Alain (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, came clear final furlong, ran on strongly, won at York 7f hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Flying Pursuit (9-7) by 3 3/4l, 19 ran.
Severnaya (IRE) 1-2fav (9-5) A little slow away, soon prominent racing keenly, led 3f out, clear over 1f out, easily, won at Chepstow 7f stks (5) gs in Sep beating Snow Ocean (9-3) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Alfred Boucher 7-2 (9-3) Soon led, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, no extra, 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Casanova (9-6) at Sandown 1m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Target Zone 10-1 (9-0) Steadied start, switched to race towards stand side 5f out, close up, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 6th of 10, 4 1/4l behind Sawwaah (9-3) at Ascot 1m stks (3) sft in Oct.
Riviera Nights 13-2 (9-2) Close up, ridden 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Dubai Legacy (9-6) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
