switched left at start, always behind
held up, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong
outpaced towards rear, driven halfway, stayed on inside final furlong
led, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra
chased leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, soon weakened
in touch, weakened 2f out
in touch, ridden and lost place over 2f out
chased leaders, driven along over 3f out, ran on towards finish
chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed close home, one pace
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, led towards finish
slowly into stride, switched left start, always behind
in touch, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
mid-division, weakened over 2f out
Benedict has more to do than when landing handicaps at Newmarket in his last two starts and preference is for Rathor, who gets the vote ahead of Royal Island. The last mentioned should be suited by this track, as he is likely to race prominently and has a decent draw but Mark Johnston's colt appears a shade high in the weights at present. Flipando is set to go up 2lbs in future handicaps but, along with James Caird, has been done few favours with the draw. With Roger Charlton's horses in such good form, Balavista has to be respected along with the well-drawn Sky Crusader. A market move for Blue Spinnaker would be of interest, while Party Boss has been given a chance by the handicapper but may be better on the all-weather. Hartshead is better than he showed at Redcar last time and is another to consider but the vote goes to Rathor. Henry Cecil's colt looked one to keep on the right side of when scoring at Pontefract in July and duly made a winning start to his handicap career when landing a race at Nottingham over this trip later that month. Although disappointing in a Group 3 subsequently, the son of Machiavellian looks worth another chance on earlier form and is given the vote from his good draw.
Blue Spinnaker (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Raced far side, always behind, 17th of 30, 15l behind Blue Monday (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) sft.
Rathor (IRE) 14-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out, 6th of 10, 7l behind Layman (8-7) at Salisbury 1m Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
Royal Island (IRE) 16-1 (8-5) Held up behind leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 2nd of 13, nk behind My Paris (8-12) at Doncaster 1m hcp 0-110 (2) sft in Sept.
Party Boss 50-1 (9-4) Chased leaders until weakened well over 1f out, 11th of 13, 19l behind Serre Chevalier (9-0) at Goodwood 7f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Balavista (USA) 13-2 (8-13) Led, ridden 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 10, hd behind Cashier (8-10) at Ayr 1m hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Mutawaffer 18-1 (8-7) Towards rear, effort over 2f out, never near to challenge, 8th of 13, 9l behind My Paris (8-12) at Doncaster 1m hcp 0-110 (2) sft in Sept.
James Caird (IRE) 7-2 (8-13) Held up behind, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 7, 8l behind Isidore Bonheur (8-10) at Ayr 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Benedict 3-1fav (8-7) Chased leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (2) gf in Sept beating Prince Samos (8-5) by a shd, 8 ran.
Sky Crusader 14-1 (8-9) Raced centre, in rear, pushed along halfway, ran on final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 16, 4 1/2l behind Pango (8-5) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept.
Flipando (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, headed and no extra near finish, 2nd of 15, hd behind Jubilee Street (8-1) at Redcar 1m hcp (2) gf.
Blue Trojan (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Chased leaders until weakened over 2f out, 11th of 16, 5l behind Nero's Return (8-11) at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp (2) gf in Sept.
Hartshead 11-2fav (8-13) Raced keenly mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 15, 2l behind Jubilee Street (8-1) at Redcar 1m hcp (2) gf.
Nashaab (USA) 20-1 (8-11) Held up, soon pushed along, hard ridden over 2f out, no impression final furlong, 7th of 10, 4l behind Cashier (8-10) at Ayr 1m hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Holiday Camp (USA) 11-4fav (8-10) Tracked leaders, driven over 2f out, ridden when weakening over 1f out, 7th of 10, 10l behind Red Racketeer (8-12) at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Namroud (USA) 10-1 (8-6) Held up and keen, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 10, 3l behind Cashier (8-10) at Ayr 1m hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Violet Park 20-1 (8-11) Towards rear, headway 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, switched left, ran on strongly, just failed, 2nd of 17, nk behind High Bray (8-7) at Goodwood 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sept.
