in rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
tracked winner until ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, headway on inner to track leaders over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, not pace to challenge
made all, ridden clear 2f out, eased near finish
tracked leaders, ridden to chase clear winner over 2f out until over 1f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase clear winner over 1f out, edged right and no impression final furlong
keen, close up, ridden 3f out, kept on to go 3rd inside final furlong, not trouble leaders
raced wide, in touch, pushed along and lost place over 4f out
Most Celebrated and Taskeen are similar in that both won their respective maidens before running poorly on their handicap debuts. Both have something to prove now dropping down in class but Rock Steady has lived up to his name with a string of consistent efforts including a recent narrow-margin defeat at Windsor. Something went amiss with Al when odds-on to win at Newmarket last time so the vote goes to Richard Fahey’s ENGLISH SUMMER to repeat last year’s success in this as he can race off a 2lb lower mark this time round.
English Summer 20-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway on inside over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 7th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Multellie (9-4) at Hamilton 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Shell Bay (USA) 16-1 (9-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced 2f out, ridden over 1f out, plugged on again in 4th inside final furlong, never any chance with leading duo, 5th of 10, 8l behind Quebee (9-6) at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp stks (3) gf in Aug.
Al 4-6fav (9-4) Held up, in rear, pushed along and effort over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 6, 13 3/4l behind Dolphin Village (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Faithful Mount 13-2 (9-7) In touch, headway on inner over 4f out, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 4 1/4l behind The Graduate (8-6) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Bathos (IRE) 10-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened from over 2f out, 8th of 9, 6 3/4l behind Dolphin Vista (9-0) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Rock Steady (IRE) 9-4 (8-13) Tracked leading trio until approaching halfway, effort on outside 2f out, ridden and challenging in 2nd when carried left well inside final furlong, ran on, just failed, 2nd of 5, shd behind Landwade Lad (10-0) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Most Celebrated (IRE) 2-1fav (8-11) Chased leading pair, every chance 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 8 3/4l behind Stars Over The Sea (9-10) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Taskeen (IRE) 28-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, under pressure over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, eased final furlong, last of 10, 16l behind Glamorous Approach (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 2f lst stks (1) gd in Oct.
