Verdict

Swashbuckle’s earlier win at Salisbury came over 1m6f but Frederic landed a double on fast ground over 2m1f earlier in the year. Mountain Rock has won a couple of bumpers in Ireland and Vercingetorix scored over 1m7f here back in June. Recent winners Golden Jeffrey and Nordic Combined are upped in class and race from out of the weights but Angel Gabrial hasn’t won anywhere since 2014. The progressive TAXMEIFYOUCAN steps up in trip as he bids for a four-timer but won over hurdles during the summer and given it was testing going when he scored at Haydock last time, Keith Dalgleish’s charge gets the nod to show further improvement and defy a 5lb rise.

Formwatch

Swashbuckle 4-1fav (9-8) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 5 1/2l behind Euchen Glen (9-6) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gs in Aug.

Frederic 14-1 (8-10) Towards rear, plugged on final 2f, never threatened, 6th of 15, 16l behind Cool Sky (8-2) at Goodwood 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Aug.

Master Of Irony (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, chased leaders under pressure when faulted between last 2, went 3rd before last, ridden and stayed on to dispute 2nd flat, no impression with winner, 3rd of 10, 7 1/4l behind Surf And Turf (10-0) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jun.

Angel Gabrial (IRE) 9-2 (10-0) Close up, ridden to chase leader 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind St Mary's (9-9) at Chester 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.

Mountain Rock (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no impression after 3 out, no extra, not fluent last, 6th of 9, 18l behind Bosco Di Alco (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Sep.

Mister Manduro (FR) 11-4jfav (9-3) Fractious in stalls and missed break, soon prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened from over 2f out, last of 6, 22 1/2l behind Arthur Mc Bride (9-5) at Goodwood 2m hcp (2) sft in Sep.

Taxmeifyoucan (IRE) 16-1 (8-4) Mid-division, driven 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on to challenge and every chance inside final furlong, edged left, led towards finish, won at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (2) hvy in Sep beating Face The Facts (8-10) by 1/2l, 10 ran.

An Fear Ciuin (IRE) 6-4jfav (10-12) Led, pressed from 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Sir Tommy (10-12) at Perth 2m (4) gs in Sep.

Vercingetorix (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 5th, weakened from 4 out, 7th of 10, 32 1/2l behind Jaime Sommers (11-6) at Kilbeggan 2m 3f hcp sft in Sep.

Alphabetical Order 8-1 (9-13) Held up towards rear, headway when not clear run over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 4 3/4l behind Maori Bob (9-1) at Beverley 1m 4f hcp (5) gf in Aug.

Golden Jeffrey (SWI) 2-1 (10-11) Led until after 4th, not much room on inside briefly well before last, soon driven, led again final 150 yards, held on, won at Cartmel 2m 1f (4) gs in Aug beating Knockmaole Boy (12-2) by nk, 7 ran.

Nordic Combined (IRE) 20-1 (8-6) Raced wide close up, pushed along 8f out, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, all out, won at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (4) sft in Sep beating Astute Boy (8-12) by 1/2l, 12 ran.