tracked winner, ridden 3f out, led narrowly approaching 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, 1 length down when rider dropped whip inside final furlong, stayed on
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, plugged on same pace
ponied to start, set steady pace, quickened 3f out, ridden and headed narrowly approaching 2f out, rallied to lead again approaching final furlong, stayed on gamely
steadied start held up in rear, ridden 4f out, never a factor
difficult to get to start, keen close up in 4th, weakened 3f out, soon eased
Times Up won this in 2011 and has only performed at Group level in a dozen subsequent races, winning three times. Ed Dunlop's veteran has been in and out this campaign but the drop in class should enable him to be competitive. FLYING OFFICER is a brother to the St Leger winner Lucarno and looks a similar late developer. He hasn't run since April but appears to like long gaps between his races and has the size and scope to go on to better things so gets the nod. Pallasator had been running very well in handicaps before a moderate run in the Irish St Leger behind Brown Panther, a race which may not have been run to suit. His trainer doesn't tilt at windmills so he looks the main threat.
Flying Officer (USA) 11-4fav (8-12) Slowly into stride, headway on outside 12f out, soon settled in 5th, pushed along 4f out, headway to track leader 3f out, ridden to lead 1f out, stayed on strongly to hold on nearing finish, won at Nottingham 1m 6f Listed stks (1) sft in Apr beating Earth Amber (8-10) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Novirak (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Taken to post early, held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 16, 3l behind Nautilus (9-7) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 105 (2) gd.
Pallasator 6-1 (9-11) Took keen hold in moderate 4th, pushed along 3f out, soon no impression, squeezed for room over 1f out where dropped to moderate 6th, one pace, 7th of 11, 13l behind Brown Panther (9-11) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gf.
Shwaiman (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, always behind, outpaced, 4f out, eased final furlong, 13th of 14, 30l behind Van Percy (9-2) at Goodwood 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Times Up 9-2 (9-3) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, never a threat, 8th of 12, 12l behind Estimate (9-0) at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gs.