mid-division, never dangerous
held up, headway and not clear run over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong
in touch, ridden and weakened well over 2f out
held up, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, edged right and kept on same pace
prominent, led over 14f out, headed over 4f out, weakened quickly
held up in touch, ridden and hampered over 2f out, stayed on same pace
held up in touch, effort over 3f out, weakening when short of room over 2f out
in touch, weakened over 4f out
held up, headway over 4f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, short of room over 16f out, lost place halfway, headway over 3f out, stayed on
held up, headway over 1f out, never able to challenge
mid-division, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened final furlong
held up, headway over 4f out, ridden and effort over 2f out, soon one pace
held up, headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up, headway over 1f out, never on terms
mid-division, beaten when hampered and stumbled over 1f out
held up, headway over 4f out, soon chasing leaders, led over 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
behind, hampered over 1f out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden over 5f out, weakened over 3f out
always behind
mid-division, weakened over 5f out
held up mid-division, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
held up, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer
held up in touch, effort over 5f out, weakened over 3f out
held up, headway over 4f out, driven to challenge over 2f out, soon weakened
behind, headway over 4f out, kept on same pace
with leader, led over 4f out, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly
led, headed over 14f, soon faded
held up, never dangerous
in touch, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened
always behind
held up in touch, weakening when hampered over 5f out
tracked leaders, pushed along halfway, soon weakened
Although all the fancy prices have gone, it is hard to avoid the clams of Afrad who should take the beating, with Elusive Dream, Sergeant Cecil, Land 'n' Stars, Swift Sailor and Ten Carat all worthy adversaries. Nicky Henderson won this with a similar sort in Landing Light two years ago, and the ex-French Afrad looks all set to follow suit. Successful over a mile and a half here in July, he showed that he has stamina in abundance by powering home in soft ground at Goodwood later that month, and lines up off just a five-pound higher mark here. Kieren Fallon has ridden him to bot his victories and suggested that he be saved for this after his Goodwood win. The trainer has done just that, and can only be more confident after his charge was handed a good draw in stall 30. Sir Mark Prescott has three runners, Cordial, Tempsford and Elusive Dream. The last two are the main hopes, with Seb Sanders on Elusive Dream who has been specially saved for this, and it is hoped that he will stay the trip on breeding. Land 'n' Stars carries nearly a stone more than when sixth last year, but is still not badly treated on current ratings. However, he would prefer faster ground, while Swift Sailor limbered up for today by scoring at Pontefract which has a stiff finish, and with Greg Fairley's claim negating his five-pound penalty, Mark Johnston's charge is another to consider. Ten Carat has shaped like an out-and out stayer, and although the chances of King Revo and Lets Roll are respected neither have been done any favours by the draw. That leaves the people's champion Sergeant Cecil, bidding to add the Cesarewitch to his big double of the Northumberland Plate and Ebor. Only three horses have ever gone for the treble, the last in 1911, and none have managed to achieve the feat. With the ground on the soft side of good, he will do well to make history, and for us the winner has to Afrad.
True Lover (GER) 40-1 (9-0) Went left start, soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 6, 22l behind Mubtaker (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gd in Sept.
Sergeant Cecil 6-1 (9-1) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden to lead 1f out, headed and not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Millenary (9-4) at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gd in Sept.
Swift Sailor 7-4fav (8-10) Prominent, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on, won at Pontefract 2m 2f stk (3) gs in Sept beating Corrib Eclipse (9-3) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Vinando 25-1 (9-3) Held up in mid-division, headway uder pressure over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 4l behind Land 'n Stars (9-3) at Newmarket 2m lst stk (1) gd in Sept.
Tempsford (USA) 15-8fav (9-11) Tracked winner, ridden over 3f out, no impression from well over 1f out, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Hearthstead Wings (8-13) at Hamilton 1m 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Sept.
Land 'n Stars 50-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, led over 3f out, ridden out, won at Newmarket 2m lst stk (1) gd in Sept beating Larkwing (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Afrad (FR) 5-1fav (9-7) Mid-division, headway to track leading pair over 4f out, went 2nd over 2f out, led 2f out, driven and stayed on well, won at Goodwood 2m 5f hcp 0-95 (2) sft in Jul beating Ten Carat (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Ten Carat 9-4 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Swift Sailor (8-10) at Pontefract 2m 2f stk (3) gs in Sept.
Odiham 10-1 (8-7) Mid-division, effort and not much room over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 12, 4l behind Sendintank (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (2) gs in Sept.
Mirjan (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 16, 8l behind Balkan Knight (9-9) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Sept.
Distant Prospect (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 7, 11l behind Swift Sailor (8-10) at Pontefract 2m 2f stk (3) gs in Sept.
Elusive Dream 3-1fav (8-13) Held up in touch, driven to challenge over 3f out, soon every chance, kept on same pace, 4th of 16, 1l behind Balkan Knight (9-9) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Sept.
Total Turtle (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Behind, effort over 2f out, no impression, 6th of 8, 14l behind Lost Soldier Three (9-8) at York 1m 6f lst hcp (1) gd in Jul.
Fortune Island (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Tracked leading trio, hard ridden and stayed on same pace final 2f, 4th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Afrad (9-7) at Goodwood 2m 5f hcp 0-95 (2) sft in Jul.
Escayola (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Behind, headway over 2f out, shaken up final furlong, never nearer, 11th of 17, 16l behind Soulacroix (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Sept.
Cordial (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Mid-division, switched right and headway over 3f out, ridden and hung left 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Indian Pipe Dream (8-13) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (3) gs in Sept.
King Revo (IRE) 18-1 (9-8) Slowly into stride, behind, headway over 4f out, ridden and hung left 3f out, no impression, 10th of 17, 9l behind Indian Pipe Dream (8-13) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (3) gs in Sept.
Lets Roll 7-2fav (9-2) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, driven clear final furlong, won at Ayr 1m 5f hcp (4) gd in Sept beating Mt Desert (8-9) by 10l, 11 ran.
Hippodrome (IRE) 9-2 (9-8) Prominent, 3rd into straight, 2nd 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Requested Pleasure (9-2) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp 0-100 gf in Jun.
Penny Pictures (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, joined leader over 6f out, ridden 5f out, weakened well over 1f out, eased final furlong, 10th of 11, 38l behind Fortune Island (9-1) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) gs in Jul.
Inchpast 7-2fav (9-9) In touch, ridden 6f out, driven over 4f out, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 10l behind Garden Society (9-7) at Yarmouth 2m hcp (3) gf in Sept.
Highland Games (IRE) 9-2 (9-9) Tracked winner, ridden and every chance over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Garden Society (9-7) at Yarmouth 2m hcp (3) gf in Sept.
Inchnadamph 11-2fav (9-4) Towards rear, headway over 4f out, weakened 2f out, 12th of 17, 10l behind Indian Pipe Dream (8-13) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (3) gs in Sept.
Sweet Indulgence (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on, not reached leaders, 3rd of 17, 3l behind Indian Pipe Dream (8-13) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (3) gs in Sept.
Quedex 40-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out, 8th of 9, 14l behind Double Deputy (9-8) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (3) gd in Sept.
Baddam 3-1fav (8-7) In touch, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, ridden out, won at Newmarket 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Aug beating Land 'n Stars (9-9) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
High Point (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Held up mid-division, no chance final 3f, 5th of 9, 50l behind The Nawab (8-2) at York 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) sft.
Calamintha 10-1 (9-7) Led, headed after 5f, remained in touch until weakened 2f out, 8th of 14, 24l behind Far Pavilions (9-9) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in May.
The Last Cast 16-1 (8-11) Mid-division, lost place halfway, soon well behind and tailed off, last of 16, well behind Mikao (9-7) at Warwick 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sept.
Bronwen (IRE) 11-4 (8-10) Keen, close up, switched to race centre 8f out, ridden over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Newmarket 1m 7f hcp (4) sft in Jul beating Queen of Iceni (7-13) by 3l, 6 ran.
Establishment 9-1 (9-1) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, chased winner 2f out, no impression, 3rd of 7, 5l behind The Nawab (8-12) at Goodwood 2m hcp (4) gf in Sept.
Master Wells (IRE) 10-1 (9-12) Mid-division, headway to lead over 5f out, headed over 2f out, soon ridden, weaknened inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 8l behind Skye's Folly (9-12) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Considine (USA) 7-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 10th of 14, 18l behind Monte Cristo (9-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Domenico (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 12, 7l behind Tarabut (9-1) at Yarmouth 2m hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Mostarsil (USA) 20-1 (8-2) Pressed winner, weakened rapidly over 2f out, last of 11, 29l behind Kindling (8-6) at Epsom 1m 4f app hcp (4) gs.
Salut Saint Cloud 14-1 (11-6) Close up, ridden when hampered inside final 3f, soon weakened, 7th of 16, 10l behind Sir Monty (11-5) at Goodwood 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
