in touch, ridden to chase leaders over 3f out, pushed along when not much room 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
made most, driven and headed over 1f out, weakened and eased final furlong
held up in rear, not clear run 2f out, headway centre and switched right over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, stayed on
in touch when went lame over 6f out and pulled up
held up in touch, niggled along halfway, driven 3f out, one pace final 2f
prominent, hard ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway on wide outside 3f out, every chance when hung badly right to stand rail from over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong
soon tracking leader, challenged from over 3f out until weakened well over 1f out
A chance is taken with La Estrella who has taken on better opposition than he faces here and represents better value than the in-form Robert The Brave and Birkside, who are respected but are also creeping up the weights. The King And I also has to come into the reckoning on the best of his form but, as he races off a career highest mark, he has plenty to prove. Birkside has kept pulling more out of the hat this year and, having won eight times since May, he has been a total credit to his connections. However, the majority of his wins have been in sellers and claimers, so he also has more on his plate at this level. Robert The Brave is on a four-timer and, considering how much progress he has made since being upped in trip, he may have plenty more to offer. Paul Webber does well with his small number of runners on the Flat and this versatile character looks the main obstacle for the selection to get past. However, La Estrella rates as a more sporting option, as the top weight has very little to prove against this calibre of opponent. Don Cantillon's charge has relatively few miles on the clock for a four-year-old and, as he is a previous course and distance winner, there are plenty of reasons to assume he can rise to the challenge today.
La Estrella (USA) 50-1 (8-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 21, 6l behind Malt Or Mash (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcap (2) gf in Nov.
Fregate Island (IRE) 7-2fav (9-6) Tracked winner, ridden 2f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 12, 5l behind Wild Fell Hall (9-0) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jun.
Pass The Port 9-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, ridden 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Sgt Schultz (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcap (4) pol.
Birkside 5-4fav (9-11) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead well over 1f out, edged right and headed inside final furlong, not quicken, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind The King And I (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 4f app hcp (5) pol.
Vale de Lobo 8-1 (8-11) Chased leader, led 3f out, ridden well over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, not quicken, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Hoh Wotanite (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Robert The Brave 11-2 (9-3) Held up behind leaders, headway over 2f out, driven over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov beating Esclarmonde (8-12) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Noble Minstrel 15-2 (9-8) In touch, led over 3f out, driven clear over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Inchpast (9-6) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
The King And I (IRE) 5-2 (8-12) Held up in 4th, ridden over 3f out, kept on inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 4, nk behind Abounding (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) pol.
Celtic Step 11-1 (8-13) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 11th of 12, 7l behind Councellor (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
