held up, switched left 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace
held up, effort over 3f out, faded final furlong
took keen hold, led for 1f, tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
led after 1f, ridden when headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, headway 4f out, effort 3f out, kept on same pace final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, stayed on final furlong
held up, switched left and ridden 3f out, steady progress from 2f out, stayed on, went 2nd final strides
tracked leader, led over 1f out, stayed on, driven out
Nonrunner
A good contest for the stayers here and DISTINCTION might just have too much class for them, with Veracity a danger and Host Nation interesting. The selection has plenty in his favour here. Trip and ground suit, he is top rated on BHA figures, and he has regularly taken on some of the top stayers. Admittedly he has never won a Group 3 (he has five Listed wins plus a Group 2 to his name), but he is pretty much guaranteed to give his running and he can gain due reward for some good efforts. Veracity represents the in-form Godolphin team and proved he has bags of stamina with a 2m 2f Pontefract success last time. He was fifth in last year's St Leger and now he has some form back on the board he could go very close. Host Nation was last seen winning a Group 3 at Longchamp some 18 months ago, so has clearly had some problems. The gelding has now switched from Andre Fabre to Venetia Williams so he will be plenty fresh enough here and with trip and ground to his liking a big effort would be no surprise. Fiulin was runner-up behind Savarain in Listed company here last time and tries this trip for the first time. He might not quite have the class to win it. There is not much to choose between David Elsworth's pair Balkan Knight and Classic Punch, and neither is ruled out.
Balkan Knight 13-2 (9-3) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, hung right and every chance inside final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Metaphoric (9-3) at Ascot 2m lst stk (1) gd in Sept.
Big Robert 25-1 (9-7) Slowly away, held up in rear, headway on outside well over 1f out, switched left and driven inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Red Gala (9-7) at Great Leighs 1m 5f stk (2) pol in Sept.
Carte Diamond (USA) 11-2 (9-1) Soon led, headed over 1f out, soon not much room and hampered, stayed on, unable to challenge after, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Foxhaven (9-1) at Chester 1m 4f lst stk (1) gs in Sept.
Classic Punch (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on well, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Buccellati (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf.
Distinction (IRE) 11-4fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, effort when hampered over 1f out, no chance after, 5th of 8, 6l behind Metaphoric (9-3) at Ascot 2m lst stk (1) gd in Sept.
Host Nation 4-1 (8-8) Prominent, led over 1f out, soon headed, fought back, won at Longchamp 1m 7f Grp 3 gd in Apr '07 beating Le Miracle (9-2) by a nk, 5 ran.
Sagara (USA) 7-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Metaphoric (9-3) at Ascot 2m lst stk (1) gd in Sept.
Veracity 7-4fav (9-3) Chased leader, led over 1f out, kept on, won at Pontefract 2m 2f stk (3) gd beating Bogside Theatre (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Fiulin 7-2 (9-0) Soon led, ridden 2 lengths clear 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Savarain (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 6f 3yo lst stk (1) gf.
Speed Gifted 5-1 (9-0) In touch, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on well, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Buccellati (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf.
