steadied start, held up in rear, pushed along and outpaced as pace lifted over 2f out, switched left and kept on inside final furlong, never on terms
shade keen tracking leading pair on inside, went through gap on rail into 2nd over 2f out, led 2f out, soon edged left, edged right inside final furlong, stayed on well
steadied start, held up in 5th, headway on inside over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, staying on but held when hampered on rail inside final furlong, switched left and no impression 100 yards out
tracked leading trio on outside, pushed along and unable to quicken over 2f out, plugged on late, no impression
led and set steady pace, hung left off rail on bend over 2f out, headed 2f out, chased winner until over 1f out, held when slightly impeded 100 yards out, weakened into 4th last strides
tracked leader, pushed along 3f out, lost 2nd over 2f out, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 3rd last strides
NonRunner
Flag Of Honour represent last year’s winning yard and the Ballydoyle colt has come into his own since stepping up to 1m6f and recording three consecutive victories culminating in the Irish St Leger. His form is superior to that of stablemates Cypress Creek and Sir Erec and already has a verdict over compatriot Thomas Hobson but though expected to turn out a top stayer next season this may prove beyond the three-year-old with STRADIVARIUS in the field. Beaten a length by Order Of St George in last year’s renewal, John Gosden’s colt is unbeaten this season recording Group 1 victories in the Ascot Gold Cup, with Mount Moriah and Desert Skyline both well beaten, and the Goodwood Cup before landing the odds in the Lonsdale Cup at York. He looks the one to beat once again.
Desert Skyline (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders and keen, pushed along 4f out, outpaced over 2f out, plugged on into modest 4th towards finish, 4th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Young Rascal (9-0) at Newbury 1m 3f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Sep.
Stradivarius (IRE) 4-11fav (9-6) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders over 3f out, soon ridden, headway under pressure over 2f out, came towards stand side rail and led over 1f out, kept on, won at York 2m Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug beating Count Octave (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Thomas Hobson 2-1fav (9-5) In rear, headway over 3f out, switched right over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Sep beating Max Dynamite (9-5) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Cypress Creek (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, 6th halfway, headway on outer early straight and 3rd over 2f out, ridden to lead 150 yards out, kept on well, won at Naas 2m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Twilight Payment (9-9) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Flag Of Honour (IRE) 2-1fav (9-1) Made all, ridden 2f out, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, won at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep beating Latrobe (9-1) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Sir Erec (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Tracked leaders, took keen hold early, 3rd halfway, lost place entering straight, switched left in 5th and headway over 1f out, ridden to lead 100 yards out, stayed on well, won at Limerick 1m 4f lst stks (1) hvy in Oct beating The King (9-1) by 4l, 7 ran.
Mount Moriah 33-1 (9-1) Led and set steady pace until halfway, headed over 3f out, ridden and lost 2nd over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f, 8th of 9, 23 1/4l behind Stradivarius (9-1) at Ascot 2m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
