in touch, switched left over 1f out, quickened to lead well inside final furlong, ran on
in rear, ridden over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, stayed on to take 4th towards finish
in rear, ridden 3f out, no impression
led, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
slowly in to stride, soon pushed along in rear, ridden over 2f out, short lived effort over 1f out
mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden to press leader from over 2f out, led briefly inside final furlong, kept on
raced wide in touch, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, kept on
A competitive handicap to commence proceedings and we will take GOLDEN DESERT to follow up his recent success, while Suruor, Crown Choice and Ispahan should also be thereabouts. Terry Mills has had a good time of it lately and Golden Desert has been a part of that, winning readily here over 6f last time. He had plenty in hand that day and he may actually be improving at the ripe old age of five, so now switched back to this trip we will take him to defy an 8lb rise. Walter Swinburn's Crown Choice has twice won over Kempton's 7f since an abortive attempt over a mile here in May. Fast ground should suit, but the handicapper didn't miss his latest comfortable success and has raised him fully 10lbs for it. Suruor has won three of his last five outings, the last being a tough heritage handicap over course and distance. He acts well on fast ground and with 5lbs more to shoulder he should remain extremely competitive. Ispahan returns to this trip after being kept to a mile for some time. He is back on a handy mark and relishes fast ground, so he looks capable of going close with a nice racing weight here, especially if tactics are enterprising. Noble Citizen was out of sorts at Newmarket last time but is capable of making his presence felt from a mark of 89, though preference is for Golden Desert.
Golden Desert (IRE) 4-1fav (9-10) Raced centre, held up in touch, good headway over 1f out, led 1f out, driven clear, won at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Aug beating Hamoody (9-6) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
Vitznau (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 2f out, not quicken over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Ashram (8-11) at Kempton 1m stks (3yo+) (3) pol in Aug.
Jet D'eau (FR) 14-1 (8-6) Held up in touch, pushed along 3f out, switched left to outside inside final 2f, no real impression, 5th of 7, 5l behind Ordnance Row (9-0) at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
Dunn'o (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Chased leader, pushed along over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Carcinetto (8-6) at Chester 1m hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Suruor (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) Held up towards rear of mid-division, steady headway on rails from 3f out, squeezed through to challenge over 1f out, led entering final furlong, driven out, won at Goodwood 7f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Jul beating Shamwari Lodge (8-13) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Beaver Patrol (IRE) 33-1 (8-10) Always behind stands side, 16th of 17, 13l behind Markab (9-3) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Aug.
Crown Choice 13-8fav (8-13) Tracked leaders, quickened to lead inside final 2f, driven and drew clear inside final furlong, readily, won at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Apr beating Woodcote Place (8-12) by 4l, 8 ran.
Noble Citizen (USA) 20-1 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened and eased towards finish, 10th of 15, 5l behind Jeninsky (8-8) at Newmarket 7f hcp 105 (2) gd in Aug.
King's Wonder 10-1 (8-11) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 5l behind Marching Time (8-7) at Goodwood 7f hcp 105 (2) gf in Aug.
Isphahan 16-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, pushed along on outside 3f out, hanging right 2f out, soon pulled out left and headway, hung right, ran on well to press winner well inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 15, hd behind Bab Al Salam (8-12) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
