broke smartly, steadied to rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on to go 3rd inside final furlong, never dangerous
made most, quickened over 4f out, ridden 2f out, joined inside final furlong, just prevailed in hard fought battle
tracked winner, ridden over 3f out, soon carried head awkwardly, not looked resolute, weakened final furlong
close up, ridden over 3f out, soon one pace and lost 3rd inside final furlong
in touch, ridden 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, driven to joined winner inside final furlong, just held
With connections doing a raindance, the hope is that conditions might be ideal for HOT PROSPECT to land a first Listed success. This son of Motivator was second in a Windsor Group Three last month, when his jockey Philip Robinson was perhaps guilty of coming off second best in a tactical duel. He will be keen to have this progressive three-year-old to the fore here and the Derby ninth looks worth backing. The best horse in the race is Holberg, winner of the Queen's Vase when trained by Mark Johnston. The drop in trip here looks slightly bizarre considered he was outpaced by Laaheb in the September Stakes last time and one assumes that Mr Dettori will ride him from the front. He easily holds Heliodor on that run, whilst Bullet Train, winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial before finishing twelve in the race itself, has a little to prove after subsequent outings. Pink Symphony completes the line-up and gets lumps of weight from her rivals but her Listed form in fillies' races doesn't stack up as well as that of the boys.
Heliodor (USA) 33-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, driven halfway, under pressure well over 2f out, never a factor, 7th of 9, 17l behind Laaheb (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1) pol.
Holberg (UAE) 7-4fav (9-4) Dwelt, soon in touch, hard driven over 4f out, weakened well over 1f out, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Laaheb (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1) pol.
Bullet Train 4-1 (8-13) Tracked winner, challenged 3f out, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Whispering Gallery (9-2) at Windsor 1m 4f Listed stks (1) sft in Aug.
Hot Prospect 5-4fav (8-6) Held up in 5th, switched right and headway 2f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, kept on, always held, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Distant Memories (9-0) at Windsor 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) sft in Aug.
Pink Symphony 6-1 (8-6) Led at steady pace, quickened approaching halfway, ridden and headed when faltered and unbalanced over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 8, 10l behind Alsace Lorraine (9-0) at Salisbury 1m 2f fll lst stks (1) gd in Aug.
