led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
in rear and outpaced, soon driven, kept on well final furlong, not troubled leaders
slightly hampered soon after start, in touch, headway to challenge over 1f out, soon ridden, led inside last, ridden out
in touch, ridden over 2f out, no impression after
slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden over 3f out, stayed on final 2f, no impression
chased leaders, led over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside last, kept on under pressure
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f
chased leaders until ridden and lost place over 3f out
behind and outpaced, ridden 3f out, headway on outer 2f out, kept on and no impression
behind, ridden over 3f out, weakened final 2 furlong
Granato will be a popular choice to open his account, with Etmaam, Red Birr and River Treat others to conjure with in the opener. Granato, an expensive yearling at 170,000gns, made his debut over the course and distance in August, shaping well to chase home Auditorium. On the strength of that effort he was sent off as an odds-on chance at Newmarket but once again found one too good, this time in Leitrim House. He knuckled down to his task well enough and should have little difficulty going one better on the fast ground. Etmaam, who makes his debut here rather than at Haydock later in the week, is related to smart juvenile Kathryn Seymour and is stoutly enough bred on the dam's side to be a useful middle-distance filly next year. The stable's runners normally improve for the outing and Mark Johnston's young lady should be kept on the right side. Red Birr is improving slowly but but a bigger threat may be River Treat, whose stable's runners also normally improve for their debut. He can improve on his Windsor introduction, while Spring Jim, from a yard in form is yet another to consider for a place. However, with Kieren Fallon on board, Granato should prove hard to beat.
