held up last until switched out and headway on wide outside over 5f out, led over 4f out, drew well clear final 2f, very easily
tracked leading pair and pushed along at various stages, reminder and dropped to rear 5f out, struggling after
soon led, headed over 4f out, soon dropped away
led early, chased leader, chased winner from 4f out, no chance and well held final 2f
A cumulative rise of a stone did not appear to be stopping ROYAL DIAMOND when he completed a hat-trick at Ffos Las last time, so we will side with him to defy a further 5lb rise and make it a four-timer, while Ramora looks the main danger. Henry Cecil has enjoyed a fine time of things just lately, and Ramora, who has run with credit over both 1m 4f and 10f last time at Kempton, is now tried over this substantially longer trip. That may help to bring some improvement, but her pedigree suggests that she has a bit to prove on grounds of stamina, especially against Royal Diamond. Sir Mark Prescott has placed a few of his runners to rack up lengthy sequences of late, and this King's Best gelding looks like another such animal. Those brave enough might justify taking him on now back on this surface, on which he was previously unsuccessful at Lingfield. However, that was much earlier in his career and he can do better now and forms a confident choice. Straits Of Hormuz won a 10f Pontefract maiden in June and has not done badly from slightly lower marks in a couple of handicaps since then, although this is tougher, and he too has stamina to prove. Sir Mark Prescott has a good line on Battle Planner through Point Of Light, who turned over Ian Semple's runner at Beverley last month, while Onemix is yet another who might not get home. Royal Diamond is the one to be on.
Royal Diamond (IRE) 5-1 (8-2) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching 1f out, kept on well, won at Ffos Las 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sep beating Chiberta King (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Battle Planner (USA) 9-1 (9-4) Chased winner until over 7f out, relegated to last over 4f out, soon outpaced, stayed on inside final furlong to take 3rd post, 3rd of 4, 4l behind Point Of Light (9-3) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Straits of Hormuz (USA) 10-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 7, 21l behind Funday (8-12) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Onemix 4-1 (8-10) Soon tracking leader, every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, no chance when eased inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 16l behind Hollow Green (7-10) at Ffos Las 1m 2f flls hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Jul.
Ramora (USA) 3-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, good headway to chase leader over 6f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on to chase winner towards finish, no impression, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Mutamayez (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Sep.
