towards rear, pushed along 3f out, never on terms
close up, ridden over 2f out, effort over 1f out, stayed on one pace
towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never near leaders
pulled hard held up, ridden and weakened 2f out
in rear, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders
tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, weakened 3f out
led, ridden and headed 3f out, kept on same pace
towards rear, headway on inside from over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish
sweating, keen close up, led 2f out, ridden out(hand time)
towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner approaching final furlong, closing towards finish
held up, ridden and headway 2f out, ran on final furlong
headway to track leader 9f out, led 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
raced wide in touch, headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
keen in touch, ridden and weakened 2f out
held up, ridden 2f out, never a factor
A host of progressive three-year-olds makes for a highly competitive handicap. Shandoz has won both starts in handicaps over today’s trip at Ascot and beat Cepheus last time but DOUBLING DICE may edge this. The latter made a winning handicap debut when scoring at Hamilton having won in soft going before that and Hugo Palmer’s yard is in flying form at present. Galata Bridge has been notching-up wins on the all-weather while Brilliant Light won over 1m4f at Wolverhampton before scoring over a shorter trip at Sandown on his handicap bow. Several step up in distance including Luncies and Surrey Pride, who both bid for hat-tricks, while Nasraawy is preferred to Indigo Lake of the Gosden runners and Tritonic represents last year’s winning yard.
Cepheus 16-1 (9-7) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders inside final 3f, went 2nd inside final 2f, led over 1f out, headed and no extra 100 yards out, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Shandoz (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gd in Sep.
Tritonic 5-2 (9-7) Raced keenly, chased winner throughout, pushed along 3f out, stayed on same pace, never going pace to challenge, 2nd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Emissary (9-5) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Shandoz 7-2fav (9-0) Held up in last pair, not clear run and switched left entering home straight, good headway on outside 2f out, went ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, led final 100 yards, won at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gd in Sep beating Cepheus (9-7) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Galata Bridge Evensfav (9-0) Tracked leaders, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Sep beating Never Alone (9-1) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Strait Of Hormuz (IRE) 6-1 (8-4) Held up towards rear of main group, made headway on bridle over 2f out, ridden for effort over 1f out, stayed on well to lead final 100yds, won at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Sep beating Derevo (9-3) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Luncies 5-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, readily, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in Sep beating Star Of Wins (9-2) by 2l, 6 ran.
Iffraaz (IRE) 5-1 (9-6) Soon 2nd, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in Sep beating Emirates Knight (10-0) by 3l, 8 ran.
Brilliant Light 8-1 (9-6) Tracked leader 3f, handy 3rd on inside, pushed along over 3f out, switched left over 2f out, ridden and went left inside final 2f, went 2nd and stayed on inside final furlong, led post, won at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in Aug beating Tenbury Wells (9-5) by shd, 10 ran.
Surrey Pride (IRE) 13-8fav (9-7) In rear, going well 2f out, ridden and kept on strongly from over 1f out, led inside final 110 yards, won going away, won at Chester 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Summit Reach (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Kingbrook 8-1 (8-6) Raced keenly, chased leaders, kept on inside final furlong, went 3rd final 50 yards, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Ilaraab (8-8) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Indigo Lake 3-1jfav (9-1) Prominent, travelled well in lead over 1f out, ran on well, impressive, won at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Sep beating Sweet Dime (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Louganini 10-3 (9-7) Steadied start, close up in 4th, went 3rd 7f out, ridden over 2f out, edged left entering final furlong, short of room inside final furlong, hampered close home, 3rd of 4, 1l behind Star Of Wins (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Kipps (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, quick move on outside to lead over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon lost 2nd, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 4 3/4l behind Shandoz (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gd in Sep.
Doubling Dice 5-4fav (9-2) Made all, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, reduced lead towards finish, unchallenged, won at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Grinling (9-0) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Nasraawy (USA) 9-4 (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up in touch, effort to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on, unable to challenge, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Crystal Pegasus (9-4) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Sep.
Damage Control 11-1 (9-3) Held up in last pair, headway over 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, no impression on winner, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Luncies (9-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Ravens Ark 22-1 (8-0) Held up towards rear, hung right and headway inside final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Shandoz (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gd in Sep.
