in rear, headway over 1f out, soon led, kept on well towards finish
tracked leader, ridden and weakened over 1f out
close up, led over 5f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, led well over 1f out, soon headed, weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, always well held
towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon led and soon headed, weakened towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on and just held for 2nd close home
Leshlaa and Utmost are the lowest rated entries for this magnificent prize and both can be expected to improve their marks in the coming months. The former followed a very encouraging debut at Newmarket with a facile victory at Kempton while the latter gained many admirers by the manner of his maiden victory at Leicester. Both have classic entries as do Syphax and SOUTH SEAS and it's the latter who just gets the nod. His mid-summer hat-trick included a Sandown Group 3 and though not running as well as expected in the Dewhurst he ended his campaign with a second to Thunder Snow in a Group 1 in France and the winner has been in outstanding form at Meydan this winter. Kevin Ryan trains Syphax for Godolphin and the son of Arch hasn't put a foot wrong in landing a Musselburgh maiden and a York Group 3. Taamol landed a Newmarket maiden in June and didn't get the best of runs in a Doncaster Listed race though he'll need to step up here while none of the remainder can be dismissed.
Forest Ranger (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) In rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind D'bai (9-3) at Pontefract 1m lst stks (1) sft in Oct.
Leshlaa (USA) 4-11fav (9-5) Tracked leader, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Kempton 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Titi Makfi (9-0) by 5l, 13 ran.
Masham Star (IRE) (9-0) 4th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Top Score (9-0) at Meydan 7f lst stks (1) gd in Feb.
South Seas (IRE) (8-13) 2nd of 9, 5l behind Thunder Snow (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 7f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Syphax (USA) 16-1 (9-1) Held up, in rear, driven over 2f out, headway on outside 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, led post, won at York 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Aug beating Best Of Days (9-1) by hd, 7 ran.
Taamol (IRE) 7-4fav (9-0) Raced freely tracking leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Rodaini (9-0) at Doncaster 7f lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Utmost (USA) 11-4jfav (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden to lead and edged left inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Leicester 7f mdn stks (4) gf in Oct beating Cape Byron (9-0) by 1l, 8 ran.
Volatile 4-1 (9-1) Led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Second Thought (9-1) at Lingfield 7f lst stks (1) pol in Mar.
