held up in touch, driven to chase leaders 2f out, ridden 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, no impression with front trio
tracked winner, driven over 2f out, lost place inside final 2f, kept on same pace, no impression final furlong
tracked leading pair, headway over 2f out, soon challenged, ridden 1f out, kept on and every chance inside final furlong, held towards finish
tracked leaders in 4th, headway over 2f out, soon challenged, ridden 1f out, upsides and every chance inside final furlong, kept on, just held
made virtually all, hard pressed inside final 2f, ridden and stayed gamely under pressure final furlong, just held on
slowly into stride, outpaced over 2f out, never able to challenge
held up in touch, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, never on terms, weakened inside final furlong
held up in touch, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, never on terms
The last three UK-trained winners all won the Lowther at York before landing this and BESHARAH (NAP) attempts to follow suit. The Haggas filly returned a convincing winner on the Knavesmire last time ahead of runner-up Lumiere and is taken to reverse earlier running with Illuminate. The latter remains unbeaten having got the better of the selection by a head in a Group 2 on the July course here on her latest start. Ger Lyons won this in 2011 but Bear Cheek will need to step up on her recent fourth in the Flying Childers at Doncaster where Shadow Hunter was also well beaten, while Alice Springs found a couple of stablemates too good when Aidan O'Brien made a clean sweep of the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh earlier this month. Sunflower and Rebel Surge look up against it in this company.
Alice Springs (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Dwelt, in rear, 7th 3f out, pushed along 2f out and headway, slightly impeded over 1f out, soon switched right, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Minding (9-0) at Curragh 7f Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Sep.
Bear Cheek (IRE) 11-4fav (8-12) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 1 1/2l behind Gutaifan (9-1) at Doncaster 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Besharah (IRE) 11-4fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, short of room soon after start, squeezed through to challenge over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on strongly, won at York 6f Grp 2 fll stks (1) gs in Aug beating Lumiere (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Illuminate (IRE) 7-4fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead just inside final furlong, driven and all out, won at Newmarket 6f Grp 2 fll stks (1) gf in Jul beating Besharah (9-0) by ns, 9 ran.
Lumiere 9-4fav (9-0) Edged right soon after start, led, headed over 1f out, edged right under pressure inside final furlong, stayed on well, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Besharah (9-0) at York 6f Grp 2 fll stks (1) gs in Aug.
Rebel Surge (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 19, 1 1/4l behind Nemoralia (9-7) at Doncaster 6f fll (2) gd in Sep.
Shadow Hunter (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, every chance over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Gutaifan (9-1) at Doncaster 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Sunflower 7-2fav (9-0) Held up mid-division, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on, won at Windsor 6f mdn fll stks (5) gd in Sep beating Gravity Flow (9-0) by nk, 10 ran.
