dwelt tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd final strides
went left start, in rear, headway over 1f out, nearest finish
headway to lead 6f out, ridden and headed approaching 2f out, faded inside final furlong
dwelt in touch, pushed along halfway, weakened 2f out
led 2f, tracked leader, ridden and weakened over 1f out
slowly away held up, pushed along 2f out, soon weakened
held up, headway 3f out, ridden and no impression from over 1f out
towards rear, some late headway, never nearer
close up, pushed along and switched left to track leaders 2f out, chasing winner when slightly hampered and switched right approaching final furlong, lost 2nd final strides
always towards rear, weakened 2f out
prominent, led approaching 2f out, ridden and edged left approaching final furlong, ran on
in touch, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out
Herculean beat WADILSAFA at Ascot in September and a couple of fancy entries suggest he’s held in high regard. But that also applies to the runner-up and he gets a speculative vote with Jim Crowley preferring him to the Gosden-trained Elhafei, who has a recent run under his belt. Derby entry Global Giant also signed-off last season with a win when scoring on the July course here while Narynkol and Cogital are both likely improvers. Advanced Virgo is a newcomer to note though his pedigree suggests he’ll be seen in a better light over middle-distances,
Global Giant 7-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway to chase leaders halfway, every chance from over 1f out, stayed on strongly to lead closing stages, won at Newmarket 7f mdn stks (4) gf in Jul beating Tribal Quest (9-0) by shd, 11 ran.
Herculean 11-10fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, driven 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Ascot 7f mdn stks (3) sft in Sep beating Wadilsafa (9-5) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Advanced Virgo (IRE) Holy Roman Emperor gelding out of Amaraja.
Alexanderthegreat (FR) 20-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, always behind, 11th of 13, 17 3/4l behind Silver Quartz (9-1) at Windsor 1m stks (5) gf in May.
Cogital 4-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Hidden Affair (9-0) at Goodwood 7f stks (5) gs in May.
Eledeed 6-1 (9-2) Broke on terms, held up towards rear, pushed along and some headway from 2f out but never threatened, 6th of 8, 11 1/2l behind M C Muldoon (9-2) at Nottingham 1m stks (5) sft in May.
Elhafei (USA) 9-4fav (9-0) Close up, pushed along and unable to quicken 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 13, 5 1/2l behind Aurum (9-0) at Newmarket 7f mdn stks (4) gs in Apr.
Ezz (IRE) 100-1 (9-2) Slowly away, always behind, last of 13, 16 1/4l behind Archie Mckellar (9-2) at Kempton 7f stks (5) pol in Oct.
Good Effort (IRE) Shamardal colt out of Magical Crown.
Lexington Empire 50-1 (9-2) Led early, mid-division, struggling over 2f out, 10th of 13, 18 1/2l behind Hipster Boy (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Nov.
Narynkol 14-1 (9-2) In touch on outer, pushed along and headway 2f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 12, 5 1/2l behind Corrosive (9-9) at Yarmouth 1m stks (5) gf in Apr.
Olympic Odyssey 10-1 (9-2) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, no impression, 5th of 8, 11 1/2l behind M C Muldoon (9-2) at Nottingham 1m stks (5) sft in May.
Wadilsafa 9-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, effort 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to chase winner final furlong, always held, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Herculean (9-5) at Ascot 7f mdn stks (3) sft in Sep.
Overtrumped 33-1 (8-11) In touch, ridden and weakened 2f out, 10th of 12, 17 1/2l behind Jackfinbar (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Dec.
