in touch, effort over 2f out, never on terms
chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
behind, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, ridden out
tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 1f out, not clear run throughout final furlong
dwelt, held up, headway over 1f out, never on terms
always towards rear
tracked leader, lost place 2f out
always behind
in touch, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, ran on
led, hard ridden over 1f out, headed and no extra well inside final furlong
NonRunner
In view of his current progressive streak, Alnashama is sure to be popular despite topweight and the latest punishment from the assessor of a 6lb hike for a comfortable enough win at Leicester last month. However, he is now 13lb higher than when beginning his winning streak and is narrowly passed over in favour of ALEJANDRO. David O'Meara's seven-year-old gelding hasn't scored for over two years but is down to a feasible mark and the form of his Carlisle Bell second four starts ago and a recent runner-up performance at Beverley suggests he's still capable of landing a contest such as this. Valley Of Fire has proved rather frustrating since scoring on his racecourse debut at York over two years ago but does continue to threaten over this trip and could well crop up. He shaped very well at Newbury the last day, Mishaal is respected but has been sprinting, likewise Ballymore Castle who does run here off quite a tempting mark though and is not to be discounted.
Alnashama 2-1fav (9-7) Raced wide close up, headway to chase leader over 1f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, soon joined and briefly headed, edged left, asserted towards finish, won at Leicester 1m hcp (4) gf in Aug beating Top Beak (9-4) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Exchequer (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Held up, mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Mehronissa (9-11) at Newmarket 6f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Mishaal (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) With leader on stands side rail, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to lead narrowly overall inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 20, nk behind Roudee (9-10) at Ripon 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Valley of Fire 12-1 (9-4) Raced near side, held up well off the pace in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on into never nearer 4th last 100 yards, 4th of 16, 1 1/4l behind Cornwallville (9-12) at Newbury 7f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Arnold Lane (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 14th of 16, 7 3/4l behind Breakable (9-10) at Ripon 1m hcp (3) gd in Aug.
George William 15-2 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders approaching final furlong, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Wimpole Hall (9-0) at Sandown 1m hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Free Code (IRE) 10-1 (9-12) In rear, effort over 2f out, kept on, not able to challenge, 7th of 12, 6 3/4l behind Mount Tahan (9-8) at Beverley 7f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Alejandro (IRE) 6-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd entering final furlong, unable to challenge, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Mount Tahan (9-8) at Beverley 7f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Kalk Bay (IRE) 40-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 4 1/4l behind Certificate (9-10) at Doncaster 7f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Ballymore Castle (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Close up, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Reputation (9-7) at Leicester 6f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
He's No Saint 11-1 (9-10) Keen led and soon clear with one other, ridden 2f out, headed entering final furlong, weakened, 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Alnashama (9-7) at Leicester 1m hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Royal Shaheen (FR) (8-12) 8th of 10, 10 3/4l behind Ghaaly (8-12) at Saint-Cloud 1m lst stks gd in Jul.
