steadied start, patiently ridden in rear, smooth headway on outer from 2f out, shaken up to lead entering final furlong, ran on
held up in touch, smooth headway to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on same pace
set steady pace, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader until halfway, ridden and no impression over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, driven and stayed on towards finish
keen, close up, tracked leader halfway, ridden to lead briefley over 1f out, one pace final furlong
With the exception of Constant Cheers, who may well be in here as a pacemaker, there should be little to choose between this small field and it might be worth taking a chance on MAC LOVE. Stef Liddiard has done well with the former Roger Charlton inmate and at the age of eight she has decided to step him up to 1m 2f, having never raced beyond a mile. Even so, he will love the ground, he has plenty of rock solid form to his name, and he does see out his races over a mile very well, giving cause for optimism that he will get home here. His granddam Elmaamul won the Eclipse and the Lockinge in her day, so there is hope that he will stay. The theory regarding a pacemaker should chiefly concern stablemate Stotsfold. Walter Swinburn's gelding is a specialist over this trip and has course and distance winning form on fast ground to his name, so he will be a tough nut to crack. Perfect Stride was a shade disappointing when beaten over five lengths by Palavicini at York last month and there is no obvious reason why John Dunlop's charge can't uphold that form on 3lbs worse terms, but preference is for Mac Love, who is unexposed at the trip.
Mac Love 14-1 (9-1) Took keen hold, held up in 6th, pushed along and outpaced well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to threaten leaders, 5th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Delegator (8-9) at Goodwood 1m stks (1) gd in Aug.
Stotsfold 28-1 (9-0) Rail bid, gaining late, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Gio Ponti (9-0) at Arlington(USA) 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.
Constant Cheers (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 6, 6l behind Potentiale (8-13) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Perfect Stride 7-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, came centre over 4f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Palavicini (8-12) at York 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
Palavicini (USA) 8-1 (8-12) Raced keenly, soon tracked leaders, came centre over 4f out, led centre group and chased overall leader over 1f out, driven and edged left inside final furlong, led well inside final furlong, ran on, won at York 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug beating Dream Lodge (9-5) by 1l, 7 ran.
