in touch, ridden over 2f out, led well over 1f out, soon clear, ridden out easily
raced keenly towards rear, ridden 3f out, never dangerous
slowly into stride, took keen hold in rear, headway on out to 3f out, ran on strongly from over 1f out, took 2nd post, no chance with winner
always towards rear, never dangerous
held up, headway and stayed on from over 1f out, never nearer
behind, headway to chase leaders 2f out, no extra over 1f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
soon led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
behind, some headway over 2f out, never near leaders
mid-division, short of room and checked over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reached leaders
tracked leaders, kept on to take 2nd just inside final furlong, no chance with winner, lost 2nd post
in touch until weakened over 2f out
tracked leader, effort 2f out, soon ridden and weakened over 1f out
Eccollo can defy a penalty to score again, with Under Fire, Trevian, Picture Show and Jomus just a few likely challengers. Tim Pitt has placed Eccollo to gain back-to-back successes here and at Wolverhampton in recent weeks, and although the four-year-old has to carry topweight today, those efforts suggest that he should be up to the task. This lightly-raced gelding had his nearest rival five-lengths away last time and is probably open to lots more improvement. Further success today will no doubt encourage connections to step him up in grade, as he will be able to carry less weight, albeit against stronger rivals, and they will be disappointed if he fails here. Under Fire has done nothing wrong on Turf of late, and has his first run-out on an artificial surface since February. He should be noted in the market but should pay to follow over the winter. Hold-up merchant Trevian was successful at Brighton in September, but will always need luck-in-running to take a hand, while Picture Show has first-time blinkers to help his cause. Jomus has his fair share of weight but has a squeak on his best form, with preference for Eccollo.
Eccollo (IRE) 2-1fav (9-1) Awkward leaving stalls, prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon quickened clear, eased towards finish, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol beating Uhuru Peak (9-2) by 5l, 13 ran.
Jomus 5-1 (8-9) Pulled hard, held up, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Landucci (9-0) at Kempton 1m app hcp (4) pol in Sept.
Hallings Overture (USA) 6-1 (8-10) Prominent, ridden to lead over 2f out, soon headed, no extra and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 13, 6l behind Double Spectre (9-4) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Sept.
Lobengula (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Prominent, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 4th of 12, 7l behind Some Diva (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Hadath (IRE) 9-2 (8-4) Held up in rear, headway and raced alone far side over 1f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, 5th of 15, 3l behind Megalala (8-6) at Brighton 7f clm (6) gs in Sept.
Under Fire (IRE) 10-1 (8-6) Prominent, led over 3f out, clear final furlong, ridden out, won at Brighton 1m 3yo hcp (6) gs in Oct beating Moyoko (8-8) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Trevian 9-1 (8-13) Keen hold, steadied into mid-division, good headway over 1f out, stayed on under pressure to lead near finish, won at Brighton 1m hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Sept beating Sincerely (9-8) by a nk, 15 ran.
Picture Show (USA) 11-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, lost place over 4f out, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon edged left, not quicken inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Princess Danah (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Sept.
