tracked leaders, led 2f out, soon ridden and kept on well until headed final 100 yards
in touch, headway on outside 2f out, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, driven and stayed on to lead final 100 yards
soon tracking leaders on outside, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden 3f out, soon beaten
behind, pushed along early straight, headway on inside 2f out, stayed on under pressure to take 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leader, led over 6f out, headed 2f out, weakened rapidly
slowly into stride, behind, pushed along early straight and soon struggling
held up, ridden and no chance final 2f
led over 3f, tracked leader, regained lead briefly 2f out, chased leader to over 1f out, weakened final furlong
Benbrook can make the most of his light weight in the finale, with Luna Landing, Bon Viveur and Lake Shabla just a few potential dangers. Benbrook has been in good form since a change of tactics has been employed, the colt making all at Nottingham and Leicester in recent weeks. He lost nothing in defeat at Chester last time, as the track might not have suited him, plus he was giving lumps of weight away to the winner. He now moves up one grade and so can enjoy the fact that he gets weight off all of his main rivals, and is therefore taken to bounce straight back and make all the running. Luna Landing scraped home at Pontefract last time, and the suspicion is that he will soon need further than a mile-and-a-quarter, while Bon Viveur has saved his best efforts for Windsor, and if taking the selection on for the lead, will find that he has a battle on his hands. Lake Shabla has plenty of weight for what he has achieved so far, and has not been seen for over three months, and instead we look to his trainer's father for the answer in the shape of Benbrook.
Lake Shabla (USA) 8-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 13l behind Short Skirt (8-12) at York 1m 2f 3yo fll Grp 3 (1) gs in May.
Celtic Spirit (IRE) 10-1 (8-6) In touch, ridden and headway 2f out, drifted left under pressure inside final furlong, stayed on to go 2nd final strides, 2nd of 8, nk behind Acrobatic (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Luna Landing 20-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, driven over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, kept on, won at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) gf in Jul beating Bin Rahy (9-7) by a hd, 6 ran.
Bon Viveur 9-2 (9-4) Led at fast pace and soon clear, steadied halfway, edged left over 2f out and soon headed, driven and kept on again towards finish, 4th of 7, 3l behind Pagan Crest (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) gf.
Ahmedy (IRE) 7-1 (8-6) Dwelt, behind, not clear run over 2f out, soon switched left, stayed on, nearest finish, 4th of 8, 4l behind Hill Spirit (9-2) at Salisbury 1m 3yo hcp (4) gf.
Cape Diamond (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Held up, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on, 4th of 9, 4l behind William's Way (9-4) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.
Benbrook 9-4fav (9-3) Chased winner, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Dream of Paradise (8-1) at Chester 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) gf.
Gus 13-2 (9-3) Led, ridden over 3f out, headed 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 7l behind Pound Sign (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) pol in Mar.
