raced very wide with one other until switched left to join main group over 4f out, prominent, ridden to lead 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra
slow into stride towards rear, ridden 3f out, never nearer leaders
raced very wide with one other until joined main group over 4f out, prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, ridden and weakened 3f out
close up, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
raced very wide 2f, in touch, ridden over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, driven and stayed on to go 4th near finish
mid-division, weakened 3f out
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden 3f out, never a factor
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, ridden 3f out, never near leaders
towards rear, ridden 3f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish
held up, headway entering final 3f, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, led 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on same pace
towards rear, headway in centre 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace
close up, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out
Ante-post favourite but now a non-runner, Argus came out best in a blanket finish ahead of a number of these over course and distance two weeks ago. But no three-year-old has won this since 2007 and connections of Mistiroc, stablemate Green Light and Only Orsenfoolsies would have fancied their chances of reversing running with Ralph Beckett's charge. STORM FORCE TEN was last of 11 that day but the only one backed to beat Argus. He was entitled to need that run, his first since May, and it's significant that Andrew Balding's strapping gelding is trying his luck again - soft going is very much in his favour. Another winning hurdler, Pearl Castle, also ran in that trial race and could sneak into a place if back on song but Awake My Soul looks held by Off Art on a line through Chancery. Seamour and Litigant are stayers while Penhill is not exactly reliable and only beat Buonarroti half-a-length at Haydock last time. Cousin Khee won easily reverting to the Flat at Nottingham but this is a whole different ball game.
Litigant 7-1 (9-7) Mid-division on outside, headway tracking leaders halfway, ridden when bumped 2f out, losing place when hampered over 1f out, 9th of 13, 9 1/4l behind Flying Officer (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) gs in Oct.
Penhill 9-4fav (9-7) Keen, close up, headway to lead 7f out, ridden and headed 2f out, rallied to lead again inside final furlong, soon edged left, stayed on, won at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Sep beating Buonarroti (8-12) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
First Mohican 50-1 (9-4) Always towards rear, never a factor, 27th of 34, 28 1/2l behind Grumeti (8-2) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Awake My Soul (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Held up in touch, driven and outpaced over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, took narrow 3rd towards finish, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Chancery (9-4) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Seamour (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd over 3f out, faded inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 9 1/2l behind Pallasator (9-3) at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Off Art 10-1 (9-2) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, no impression final 75 yards, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Chancery (9-4) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Zand (IRE) 9-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 9th of 14, 4 3/4l behind Bancnuanaheireann (9-1) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Oct.
Pearl Castle (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Close up, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, faded towards finish, 6th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Argus (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Mistiroc 10-1 (9-2) Set steady pace, quickened pace over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, faltered and headed close home, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Argus (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Villa Royale 33-1 (8-13) In touch, effort over 2f out, ridden and one pace over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 8th of 33, 9 1/2l behind Big Easy (8-7) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Blue Hussar (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Slow into stride in rear, never a factor, 10th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Argus (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Manhattan Swing (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Switched left start in rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor, 9th of 11, 3 3/4l behind Argus (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Storm Force Ten 4-1fav (9-1) Tracked leader until ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 11, 7 1/2l behind Argus (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Eton Rambler (USA) (9-3) 4th of 0, 8 1/4l behind Metramo (8-10) at La Zarzuela 1m 4f lst stks in Oct.
Cousin Khee 9-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, led inside final 3f, came readily clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (4) hvy in Oct beating Caged Lightning (9-8) by 7l, 9 ran.
Esteaming 7-1 (9-0) In rear, headway when not clear run entering final furlong, soon switched left, ridden and ran on, nearest finish, 7th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Argus (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Green Light 14-1 (8-12) In touch, not clear run over 1f out, switched right entering final furlong, ran on, not reach leaders, 3rd of 11, 1/2l behind Argus (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Barwick 16-1 (9-6) Towards rear, headway on outer 7f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 13, 8 1/2l behind Rhombus (10-0) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (3) sft in Aug.
Only Orsenfoolsies 20-1 (8-13) Close up, lost place over 2f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, stayed on, 4th of 11, 1 1/4l behind Argus (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Buonarroti (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Argus (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Shrewd 7-2fav (9-11) In touch, chased leaders over 4f out, driven to challenge over 1f out, kept on well closing stages, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Card High (9-0) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Giantstepsahead (IRE) 7-4fav (9-7) Made all, ridden and edged right over 1f out, kept on well, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Jun beating Our Queenie (9-3) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Argus (IRE) 9-4fav (8-8) Tracked leaders, not clear run from 2f out, switched right inside final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead close home, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct beating Mistiroc (9-2) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
