towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on
towards rear, ridden and edged left 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
mid-division, effort and headway 2f out, kept on to chase leaders
in touch, headway 2f out, quickened up to lead approaching final furlong, edged left and driven clear
towards rear, headway when bumped 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, led 3f out, headed approaching final furlong, no further impression
led for 1f, ridden over 2f out, weakening and in rear when bumped 2f out
in touch, weakening when bumped 2f out
slowly into stride, some late progress
slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden and weakened over 1f out
mid-division and keen, effort when not clear run 2f out, kept on
towards rear, never a danger
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, faded final furlong
soon led, headed 3f out, weakened final furlong
Plenty of recent winners in the line-up here and the narrow vote goes to Raglan Copenhagen ahead of Nouveau and Jimmy Styles. The selection is just one of six runners who come here on the back of victories and with so many unexposed runners, just a tentative vote goes to Rod Millman's Raglan Copenhagen. The gelding showed his aptitude for soft ground when winning at Salisbury last month and had previously ran well on good ground at Lingfield. His pedigree suggests that quick ground shouldn't hold any fears, so adaptable in regards to ground, he looks the solid option. Blackat Blackitten was an expensive purchase and Gerard Butler's charge goes on the shortlist, along with Jimmy Styles whose form looks very very solid. Nouveau comes here chasing the hat-trick and obviously gets on very well with the promising apprentice Hadden Frost, and Esteem Machine is another certainly going the right way. Fabuleux Millie continues to find at least one too good however whilst she is holding her form well, her next win may come when up against her own sex. All in all this looks ultra-competitive, and we will return to the bottom-weight Raglan Copenhagen to upset some of the more fancied runners.
King's Bastion (IRE) 11-2 (9-4) Chased leaders, drvien and weakened over 2 furlongs out, 8th of 9, 13l behind Royal Rock (9-6) at Windsor 6f 3yo hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Fabuleux Millie (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) In touch, pushed along halfway, chased winner well inside final furlong, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Golden Desert (9-2) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (4) pol.
Blackat Blackitten (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Dwelt, in touch, pushed along 3f out, headway and effort 2f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Carlisle 7f mdn stk (5) gf in Jul beating Red Blossom (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Jimmy Styles 4-5fav (9-3) Tracked leader, switched left over 1f out, led entering final furlong, ran on strongly, won at Windsor 6f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gf beating Wolf River (9-3) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Buckie Massa 7-4fav (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, hard ridden to lead inside final furlong, all out, won at Brighton 6f 3yo hcp (4) frm beating Sacre Coeur (9-5) by a hd, 7 ran.
Esteem Machine (USA) 1-2fav (9-3) Made all, quickened clear 2f, out easily, won at Lingfield 7f mdn aut stk (6) gs in Jul beating Demolition (9-3) by 3l, 8 ran.
Fairfield Princess 33-1 (9-3) Behind, ridden and struggling 2f out, 8th of 11, 7l behind Dig Deep (9-12) at Ascot 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
Miss Ippolita 9-1 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 10, 7l behind Gentle Guru (9-6) at Sandown 5f 3yo hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Roodolph 11-2 (8-13) Raced far side, track leader, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, last of 12, 15l behind Slate (9-7) at Folkestone 7f 3yo hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Double Bill (USA) 20-1 (8-13) Behind, slightly short of room 2f out, soon outpaced, 10th of 12, 8l behind King's Apostle (9-1) at Kempton 6f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Jul.
Farefield Lodge (IRE) 20-1 (8-10) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon driven and weakened, 11th of 13, 8l behind Edge Closer (9-6) at Ascot 6f 3yo hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Equuleus Pictor 8-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 24l behind Northern Dare (8-10) at York 6f 3yo hcp (4) hvy in Jul.
Nouveau (GER) 15-8fav (8-9) Close up, led after 2f, ridden well over 1f out, kept on well, won at Haydock 6f 3yo hcp (5) gf beating Rainbow Fox (9-6) by 2l, 12 ran.
Raglan Copenhagen 13-8jt-fav (9-3) Chased leader, ridden to lead 2f out, driven clear final furlong, won at Salisbury 6f 3yo mdn (4) sft in Jul beating Dirty Dancing (8-10) by 3l, 8 ran.
Crystal Gazer (FR) 2-1fav (9-8) Took keen hold, held up in 5th, pushed along over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no danger, 4th of 7, 2l behind Sweet Pickle (9-2) at Windsor 6f fll hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Kelamon 7-2 (9-1) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 7l behind Bee Eater (9-3) at Warwick 6f 3yo hcp (4) sft in Jul.
