prominent, lost place halfway
led, strongly challenged from over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, led inside final furlong, soon headed, stayed on well
held up in touch, effort over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leader, under pressure over 1f out, stayed on same pace
steadied start, behind, some late headway, never dangerous
in touch, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, lost place 2f out
always behind
mid-division, headway over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra close home
chased leaders, under pressure halfway, soon weakened
prominent, lost place halfway
prominent, under pressure well over 1f out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
David Nicholls complicates matters by saddling no fewer than four runners for the opener on the card and it is hard to choose between that quartet let alone the other 13 runners that line up but STRIKE UP THE BAND lost no caste in defeat behind subsequent Nunthorpe winner Borderlescott at Chester last time and he is marginally preferred to stable companions Sonny Red and Northern Dare plus Hamish McGonagall. The son of Namid looks the pick of Tim Easterby's two runners in the race over Captain Dunne and he has been running consistently well of late so has to be considered. Willie Muir's Blue Jack has won three of his last four starts but the handicapper has taken note and a 6lb rise for his latest success at Sandown makes this tougher. Tom Dascombe's Bertoliver won well at Chester last time when making the most of a decent draw and a 5lb rise for that success is perfectly fair. He makes more appeal than Kevin Ryan's Arganil, who seems too high in the weights following his Listed race success at Lingfield in March. Rod Millman's Mattamia has been running consistently well of late and should be thereabouts again as should the David Nicholls-trained Northern Dare, who can race off the same mark as when a close third behind Blue Jack at Sandown. Stable companion Sonny Red has the assistance of Kieren Fallon and has to be considered but preference is for another Nicholls runner Strike Up The Band.
Hamish McGonagall 7-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, not clear run 2f out, edged right inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 6th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Exceptional Art (8-12) at Beverley 5f Listed stks (1) gf in Aug.
Strike Up The Band 16-1 (9-0) Prominent early, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 10, 5l behind Borderlescott (9-0) at Chester 5f Listed stks (1) gf in Jul.
Sonny Red (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Behind, under pressure halfway, stayed on well, never nearer, 6th of 17, 2 3/4l behind Barney McGrew (9-5) at York 5f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Aug.
Arganil (USA) 6-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on under pressure, weakened towards finish, 5th of 7, 4l behind Knot In Wood (9-3) at Newcastle 6f Grp 3 (1) sft in Jun.
Blue Jack 6-1 (9-6) Tracked leading pair, led over 1f out, ridden and soon in command, won at Sandown 5f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug beating Tony The Tap (9-3) by 1l, 14 ran.
Captain Dunne (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Led 1f, remained prominent, effort over 1f out, never able to challenge, 5th of 17, 2 1/4l behind Barney McGrew (9-5) at York 5f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Aug.
Fathom Five (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, hard ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 13th of 19, 5l behind Judge 'n Jury (9-1) at Ascot 5f hcap (2) gf in Jul.
Parisian Pyramid (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, never a factor, 11th of 12, 6l behind My Gacho (9-6) at Chester 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Aug.
Mattamia (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure final furlong, 4th of 15, 2 3/4l behind Noble Storm (9-6) at York 5f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.
Northern Dare (IRE) 5-1fav (9-6) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Blue Jack (9-6) at Sandown 5f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.
Cheveton 33-1 (8-11) Always behind stands side, last of 17, 16l behind Markab (9-3) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Aug.
Sudden Impact (IRE) 10-1 (8-6) Slowly away, headway to chase winner 5f out, hung right on bend 3f out, soon lost 2nd, wide into straight and soon beaten, last of 6, 23l behind Taqdeyr (8-11) at Warwick 7f cond Stakes (3) gd in Aug.
Tabaret 20-1 (8-9) Tracked ldaders, ridden to challenge well over 1f out, stayed on under pressure, 7th of 17, 3l behind Barney McGrew (9-5) at York 5f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Aug.
Zuzu (IRE) 9-1 (8-0) Chased leaders, driven to challenge halfway, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 9l behind Nota Bene (8-9) at Newmarket 5f cond Stakes (3) sft in Jul.
Equuleus Pictor 16-1 (9-1) Led far side group to over 2f out, chased clear leader that side until inside final furlong, weakened, 17th of 23, 6l behind Blue Jack (9-6) at Goodwood 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gs in Jul.
Bertoliver 3-1fav (9-6) Quickly away, made all, pushed 2 lengths clear over 1f out, ran on well, driven out, won at Chester 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug beating Le Toreador (9-8) by 1l, 11 ran.
Toms Laughter 20-1 (9-0) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 15, 7l behind Exceptional Art (8-12) at Beverley 5f Listed stks (1) gf in Aug.
