prominent nearside, stayed on to lead that group inside final furlong, no chance with centre group
chased leaders centre, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra close home
steadied start, held up in rear centre group, never a factor
chased leaders near side, ridden and outpaced 2f out
led centre group and overall leader until headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace
tracked leader centre to 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out
in touch centre, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, not troubled leaders
towards rear centre group, headway 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, nearest finish
tracked leader nearside, ridden to lead that group over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no chance with centre group
tracked leader centre group, always hanging left, weakened over 2f out
held up centre group, headway over 1f out, driven and stayed on to lead post
prominent centre group until weakened over 1f out
in touch centre group, ridden over 2f out, no impression over 1f out
tracked leaders centre group, ridden to lead over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, caught post
in touch near side group, effort 2f out, no chance with centre group from over 1f out
always towards rear centre group, never a factor
led nearside group until headed over 2f out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
This is another cracking race and the vote is given to Balthazaar's Gift who is preferred to Al Qasi and Benbaun. The selection is a course and distance winner and he ran a blinder at Haydock last time when he was slowly away but was powering on at the finish behind Red Clubs. He arrives here in good heart and he has outstanding claims. Benbaun is chasing the hat-trick and there was plenty to like about the way he beat Moss Vale at the Curragh last time. However, all his best form has been on that track and he is passed over today. Al Qasi is another who won well last time at the Curragh but the stable have had a quiet spell and that does temper confidence in him. Zidane is from a yard in good form and this course and distance winner can go well at a price, but we will stick with Balthazaar's Gift as the one to beat.
Al Qasi (IRE) 9-4 (9-5) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd and headway 1 1/2f out, 2nd and challenged final furlong, led 100 yards from finish, stayed on well, won at Curragh 6f Grp 3 (1) gs in Aug beating Evening Time (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Assertive 12-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders on rail, tried to close inside final furlong, never reached winner but just missed 2nd, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Eisteddfod (9-2) at Sandown 7f lst stk (1) gd.
Balthazaar's Gift (IRE) 11-1 (9-3) Stumbled start, behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Red Clubs (9-3) at Haydock 6f Grp 1 (1) gf.
Baltic King 8-1 (9-0) Hampered start, in rear, never dangerous, 10th of 12, 7l behind Hellvelyn (8-12) at Beverley 5f lst stk (1) gf in Aug.
Beckermet (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Held up, effort when not much room over 1f out, eased when beaten inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 6l behind Hotel du Cap (9-2) at Newbury 7f lst stk (1) gf.
Zidane 6-1fav (9-1) Held up in centre group, headway well over 1f out, ran on strongly under pressure inside final furlong, led final stride, won at Goodwood 6f hcap (2) gf in Aug beating Borderlescott (9-9) by a shd, 27 ran.
Abraham Lincoln (IRE) 5-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, 5th and headway on outer 2f out, soon challenged, led 1f out, ran on well, won at Curragh 6f stk gf beating Inourthoughts (8-9) by 2l, 10 ran.
Benbaun (IRE) 5-4fav (9-8) Led, headed 2f out, regained lead under 1f out, stayed on well under pressure, won at Curragh 6f Grp 3 (1) gf beating Moss Vale (9-3) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
