Great Britain is set to go up 5lbs in future handicaps following an improved display in the Bentinck Stakes under similar conditions last week and, while it does not always pay translating conditions race form into handicap form, Godolphin's colt is hard to oppose and is preferred to Out After Dark and Greenslades. The last mentioned has held his form pretty well but there is a suspicion that Peter Makin's seven-year-old is now a shade high in the handicap so he may be best watched. Diane's Choice has done nothing wrong of late but her best form has been over five furlongs and she has yet to prove that she is as effective over this trip, while River Falcon is capable but is proving to be hard to win with. Special Lad has shown improved form on the Polytrack recently but he has gone up in the weights as a result so may be a shade high in them now, while Zowington showed signs of a revival at Haydock last time and cannot be discounted judged by that effort although a bigger threat is likely to come from Out After Dark, who again has his ground and looks well enough treated judged by his latest effort at York. None look to be better treated than Great Britain though and he is the obvious choice.
Great Britain 25-1 (9-1) Led over 4f, held when hampered near finish, 4th of 14, 2l behind Bygone Days (9-1) at Newmarket 6f Grp 3 (1) gs.
Out After Dark 10-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 18, 2l behind Rising Shadow (8-7) at York 6f hcap (2) sft.
Greenslades 9-4fav (9-13) Slight lead, narrowly headed over 1f out, stayed challenging under pressure, unable to quicken near finish, 3rd of 6, nk behind Idle Power (9-3) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Aug.
Skhilling Spirit 11-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden halfway, never on terms, 10th of 18, 6l behind Rising Shadow (8-7) at York 6f hcap (2) sft.
Viking Spirit 11-2 (9-0) Behind, headway on inside rail 2f out, ran on final furlong to take 3rd last stride, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Mutamared (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (2) pol in Sept.
River Falcon 11-1 (8-4) Held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on well, nearest finish, 4th of 18, 2l behind Rising Shadow (8-7) at York 6f hcap (2) sft.
Trafalgar Bay (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Held up, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 10th of 19, 5l behind King's Caprice (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs.
Idle Power (IRE) 16-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 6l behind Woodcote (9-0) at Ascot 5f hcap (2) gs.
Beaver Patrol (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Mid-division, not much room inside final 2f, ran on inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Mutamared (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (2) pol in Sept.
Zowington 25-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, led 2f out, driven and headed inside final furlong, rallied close home, 3rd of 12, hd behind Stanley Goodspeed (8-1) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sept.
Commando Scott (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 12, 11l behind Army of Angels (9-7) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept.
Connect 14-1 (8-2) Held up, never dangerous, 9th of 11, 5l behind Mecca's Mate (8-12) at Newmarket 5f hcp 0-110 (2) gs.
Charles Darwin (IRE) 5-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, every chance over 1f out, ran on final furlong, not quicken near finish, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Woodcote (9-0) at Ascot 5f hcap (2) gs.
Gifted Gamble 9-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, led entering final furlong, headed last strides, 2nd of 13, shd behind Dhaular Dhar (9-4) at Catterick 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Ingleby Arch (USA) 50-1 (8-3) Towards rear, pushed along halfway, kept on from over 1f out, never on terms, 8th of 18, 5l behind Rising Shadow (8-7) at York 6f hcap (2) sft.
Special Lad 9-2 (9-4) Steadied start, pulled hard, held up, wide into straight 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, ran on, just failed, too much to do, 2nd of 11, shd behind Grand Show (9-1) at Lingfield 6f hcap (4) pol.
Kenmore 14-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 19, 4l behind King's Caprice (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs.
Signor Peltro 8-1 (8-6) In touch, ridden to challenge over 2f out, edged left under pressure over 1f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 19, 4l behind King's Caprice (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs.
Phantom Whisper 33-1 (8-6) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 2f out, 10th of 16, 11l behind Al Qasi (8-13) at Ascot 6f 3yo hcp (2) gs in Sept.
Diane's Choice 12-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Munaddam (9-6) at Folkestone 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Sept.
