mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened 1f out
chased leader, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
chased leader, ridden 3f out, weakened 1f out
held up last, short lived effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent, led after 3f, ridden over 2f out, pushed clear final furlong, easily
led and set steady pace, headed after 3f, prominent until ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
Nonrunner
A visor makes the mischievous SUGAR RAY most interesting and he gets the nod over Juniper Girl, Balkan Knight and Regal Flush. It's good to see Northumberland Plate heroine Juniper Girl back on the track but she is unlikely to be fully tuned up for this reappearance run and she has appeared to need her first run of the season in the past. Therefore Sugar Ray gets our vote, as a horse with the potential for even more improvement. Ryan Moore is often seen to his best on rides that require a strong hand and Sugar Ray is not straight-forward. He has progressed well this season and wasn't beaten far in a tough handicap at Ascot recently, so if the visor does the trick then he could be hard to beat with the step up in trip expected to suit. Balkan Knight stays well and is a course and distance winner who needs respect now dropped in grade, whilst Dansili Dancer has a good strike-rate and ran his best race this season last time out at Windsor. Land 'n Stars is likely to need the run and along with Hawridge Prince may be slightly outclassed, so of more interest may be Munsef. He is quirky and his best trip is a mile and a half so he will need things to drop right. Regal Flush is the highest-rated in the field but this former Sir Michael Stoute inmate has been poor this season and despite a drop in class is hard to fancy. A good end to the card and preference is for Sugar Ray.
Balkan Knight 25-1 (9-3) Held up, ridden 4f out, effort on outside over 2f out, not reach leaders, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 7l behind Sixties Icon (9-5) at Newbury 1m 5f Grp 3 (1) gs in Aug.
Dansili Dancer 8-1 (9-2) In touch 4th, ridden to challenge 2f out, every chance until 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Spanish Moon (9-7) at Windsor 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf in Aug.
Hawridge Prince 33-1 (9-9) Always in rear, never a factor, 16th of 18, 19l behind Missoula (9-0) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gf in Jun.
Land 'n Stars 100-1 (9-7) In touch until ridden and weakened 6f out, 29th of 33, well behind Leg Spinner (8-11) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcap (2) gs in Oct.
Munsef 6-4 (9-1) Tracked winner, challenged and every chance over 1f out, soon beaten, eased final 100 yards, 2nd of 3, 10l behind Eastern Anthem (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f stk (3) gf in Jul.
Regal Flush 12-1 (9-7) Held up behind leading trio, ridden to challenge for 3rd 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 17l behind Yeats (9-12) at Goodwood 2m Grp 2 (1) gf in Jul.
Juniper Girl (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) Led 9f, 2nd straight, driven 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, 5th of 6, 7l behind Le Miracle (9-2) at Longchamp 2m 4f Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Sugar Ray (IRE) 11-2 (9-10) Pulled hard and soon prominent, every chance from 2f out, weakened quickly inside final furlong, 8th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Pippa Greene (8-11) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jul.
