held up in 4th, effort 2f out, soon switched towards far side rail, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no impression with winner
tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression when lost 2nd inside final furlong
held up in 6th, switched to race wide halfway until entering straight, driven over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on on outside final furlong, never reached leaders
held up in 5th, effort on outside over 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, weakened inside final furlong
led, driven and headed over 2f out, soon ridden and lost place, no impression final furlong
tracked leading pair, effort to challenge 2f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden and edged right, kept on well final furlong
Gospel Choir responded to Ryan Moore's urgings to win a handicap under a big weight at Goodwood last time but the runner-up was well beaten earlier this week so the merit of the form is questionable. Royal Empire has a penalty for beating Red Cadeaux in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury in August but shouldn't be far away again and is preferred to the Godolphin three-year-old Secret Number, who was sixth in the St Leger but has had a busy season. GATEWOOD was sent off favourite on his first start back in this country at Doncaster but couldn't quite reel in the positively-ridden Out Of Bounds. The longer trip here is definitely in his favour and, a winner in this grade in Australia a year ago, he may be the one to beat. Repeater needs further but Hajras should have benefited from his comeback run and makes more appeal than the enigmatic Mijhaar.
Royal Empire 9-4fav (9-7) Tracked leading trio, went 2nd over 2f out, led 2f out, ridden and strongly pressed inside final furlong, caught final strides, 2nd of 10, hd behind Prince Bishop (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1) pol in Sep.
Gatewood Evensfav (9-2) Tracked winner throughout, ridden entering final furlong, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Out Of Bounds (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 2f cond stks (2) gs in Sep.
Gospel Choir 2-1fav (10-0) Close up, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gd in Sep beating Mister Impatience (9-3) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Hajras (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Tracked leader, pushed along over 3f out, led over 2f out, headd over 1f out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 6l behind Sharestan (9-0) at Ayr 1m 2f Listed stks 3yo (1) gs in Sep.
Mijhaar 8-1 (9-0) Led until over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 6, 14l behind Forgotten Voice (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug.
Repeater 5-1 (9-3) In rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 21l behind Caucus (9-6) at Newmarket 2m Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Sep.
Secret Number 11-1 (9-0) Took keen hold tracked leader early, close up after, ridden and headway over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 4l behind Leading Light (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 7f 3yo Grp 1 (1) gs in Sep.
