Verdict

This looks very competitive but Sam Missile should be thereabouts having won and been placed here last month. Sennockian Star wasn't beaten far in a bunch finish at Doncaster nine days ago and is on a decent mark at present. He's won here in the past while Rock Steady was only beaten half-a-length over course and distance earlier this month and has to go on the short-list. Red Rannagh and I Am Not Here are also running well enough to be considered and neither Banish nor Dutch Uncle can be dismissed out of hand. But SIXTIES GROOVE gets the nod as he was finishing best of all when fourth in a hot handicap at Newmarket last time having gone close over this trip at Goodwood previously.

Formwatch

Zamperini (IRE) 66-1 (9-1) Held up, weakened 3f out, tailed off, 11th of 12, 36 1/2l behind To Be Wild (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Oct.

Banish (USA) 20-1 (8-5) Keen, in touch, weakened 2f out, 13th of 16, 9 1/2l behind Scarlet Dragon (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Oct.

Sam Missile (IRE) 7-2 (9-8) Held up, not clear run and switched right over 2f out, soon closed, 2nd over 1f out, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Mengli Khan (9-7) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in Sep.

Sixties Groove (IRE) 9-1 (8-4) Pulled hard in rear, ridden 2f out, ran on strongly towards stands side final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 16, 1 3/4l behind Scarlet Dragon (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Oct.

Dutch Uncle 20-1 (8-9) Held up, headway 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 10th of 13, 19 1/2l behind Franklin D (9-4) at Newmarket 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.

Charlies Mate 5-2fav (9-6) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Banish (9-5) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Sep.

Sennockian Star 16-1 (9-1) Raced wide, held up, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, ran on, 4th of 20, 1/4l behind Laurence (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.

Rock Steady (IRE) 6-4fav (9-4) Held up, in touch, headway on inside over 2f out, went 2nd and every chance inside final furlong, no extra and held final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Ocean Ready (8-9) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Oct.

Petrucci (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Always towards rear, 19th of 20, dist behind Laurence (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.

Red Rannagh (IRE) 6-5fav (9-6) Dwelt, in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 4th of 7, 2l behind Marmajuke Bay (8-13) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Oct.

I Am Not Here (IRE) 7-2 (9-10) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 15, 1 3/4l behind Save The Bees (9-5) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep.