steadied start, tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
close up in 4th, headway 2f out, ridden to join leader inside final furlong, led final strides
led, ridden 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace
tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, joined inside final furlong, headed final strides
Raydiance, who won a Listed race over this trip as a juvenile, has a Group 2 entry next month but is having his first run in more than a year and may be a little ring-rusty. That comment can also be applied to Don't Touch, who hasn’t raced since October and has done all of his winning over 6f. MANKIB has no fitness worries having won a decent handicap at Newbury last month off a mark of 100. That earns him the vote in this with Mazzini looking to have a mountain to climb at the weights and proving hard to win with.
Don't Touch 12-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened, 6th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Jallota (9-0) at Redcar 7f lst stks (1) gs in Oct.
Mankib 9-2 (9-2) In rear, headway over 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on to lead close home, won at Newbury 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul beating Top Score (9-10) by nk, 5 ran.
Mazzini 6-1 (9-11) Tracked leader, effort over 2f out, soon one pace, ridden 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 11 1/4l behind Georgian Manor (9-0) at Doncaster 7f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Raydiance 7-1 (9-3) Held up in last pair, good headway chasing leaders over 2f out, went 2nd and hung left over 1f out, sustained challenge throughout final furlong, stayed on to lead final strides, won at Ascot 7f lst stks (1) sft in Jul beating Another Batt (9-3) by nk, 7 ran.