in touch, ridden over 3f out, hung left, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway and edged left well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reached leaders
led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 1f out, soon beaten
slowly into stride, held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on
slowly into stride, mid-division, lost place 4f out, ridden when not clear run, switched right over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
chased leader to over 3f out, ridden when not much room well over 1f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 4f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
Stotsfold, gets the vote here with Noble Gent and Purple Moon rating the main dangers. The selection won well last time out when beating Babcary with plenty in hand and although he is rising in the weights and is not ideally drawn, he still looks ahead of the handicapper and he is taken to win again. Noble Gent rates the main danger on his best form but he just gave the impression the handicapper had caught up with him when third behind Champions Gallery last time. Purple Moon is another that could go well but he hails from a yard that has been very quiet of late and at the likely odds he looks worth taking on. Safqa is game and consistent and is sure to run his race but he is unproven over the trip and he has the worst of the draw. Babcary has a little to find with the selection even on these revised terms and for the winner we return to Stotsfold.
Noble Gent (IRE) 3-1fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Champions Gallery (9-4) at Beverley 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Purple Moon (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, no impression, 11th of 19, 6l behind London Express (8-12) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Aug.
Salute Him (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Made all, led, hard pressed 2f out and inside final furlong, ran on gamely, held on all out, won at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Aug beating Giving (9-3) by a shd, 17 ran.
Stotsfold 7-2fav (8-11) Held up, headway on wide outside over 2f out, ridden to lead just inside final furlong, soon clear, won at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Babcary (9-1) by 4l, 11 ran.
Punta Galera (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Made all, led and set steady pace, ridden and quickened over 2f out, ran on strongly final furlong, driven out, won at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) gf beating Midnight Traveller (8-11) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Babcary 5-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, led 7f out, ridden clear over 2f out, weakened and headed line, 2nd of 10, nk behind Solva (8-3) at Bath 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) frm.
Safqa 9-2jt-fav (8-13) Slowly into stride, in rear, switched right and headway 2f out, chased leaders final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Solva (8-3) at Bath 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) frm.
Thumpers Dream 11-4 (8-12) Chased leaders, not clear run over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden clear, ran on, won at Chester 1m 2f mdn fll (5) gd in Aug beating Kalandara (8-12) by 2l, 9 ran.
