in touch far side, headway 2f out, switched right 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong
slowly away, in rear far side, ridden 2f out, never a factor
tracked leader far side, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
in rear near side, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, soon every chance, ran on
led near side group, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra
towards rear near side, pushed along and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on
tracked leaders far side, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
slowly away, towards rear far side, pushed along and headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, ran on
in touch far side, ridden and weakened over 1f out
in touch near side, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead this group inside final furlong, ran on
tracked leaders near side, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders far side, pushed along 2f out, weakened final furlong
dwelt, towards rear far side, pushed along 2f out, never nearer
tracked leaders near side, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
close up near side, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders far side, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
in touch near side, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong
held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
led far side group, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong
towards rear far side, ridden and weakened over 1f out
Bergerac won this last year with Nomadic Empire and Makanah fourth and fifth respectively. Kevin Ryan’s charge is now 3lb lower but he’s been beaten a long way in his three runs to date this season. The 2021 winner Copper Knight is also in the line-up and he was successful over course and distance again last month but only beat VENTURA EXPRESS a neck and is 4lb worse off. Paul Midgley’s six-year-old has moved up a level this term and seems to have plenty in his favour today. Intrinsic Bond has been in good form at Ascot lately but was well behind Vintage Clarets and Korker at Newcastle earlier with the latter overdue a change of luck. Manila Scouse has won his last two but there may be a danger he’ll get outpaced over this trip on this quicker surface. Jm Jungle is also on a hat-trick while Equilateral and Alligator Alley are others to consider in a wide-open curtain-raiser.
Equilateral 20-1 (9-4) Towards rear, switched left halfway, weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 9 1/2l behind Highfield Princess (9-1) at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Aug.
Korker (IRE) 5-2 (9-13) Chased leaders, angled out 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead narrowly edging right inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 6, hd behind Dream Composer (9-7) at Sandown 5f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Intrinsic Bond 4-1jfav (9-7) Chased leaders, led inside final 2f, ridden over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Rogue Lightning (9-6) at Ascot 5f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Makanah 40-1 (9-2) Chased leaders centre, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 14th of 27, 11 1/4l behind Aberama Gold (8-13) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) hvy in Aug.
Michaela's Boy (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Wore hood to post, led, ridden and headed inside final 2f, weakened quickly, soon behind, 8th of 10, 10 3/4l behind Rogue Lightning (9-6) at Ascot 5f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Vintage Clarets 40-1 (8-13) In rear far side, ridden 2f out, headway inside final furlong, never nearer, 12th of 27, 10 1/4l behind Aberama Gold (8-13) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) hvy in Aug.
Mondammej 22-1 (9-9) Midfield, pushed along over 2f out, no impression inside final furlong, 11th of 15, 7 1/2l behind Aberama Gold (9-1) at York 6f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Alligator Alley 12-1 (9-0) Wore hood to post, raced keenly, held up towards rear, good headway between horses over 1f out, went 2nd entering final furlong, well held and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Lord Riddiford (8-5) at Goodwood 5f hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Bergerac (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Led pair racing in centre, well up with the pace until ridden inside final 2f, weakened soon after, 12th of 14, 13 1/2l behind Intrinsic Bond (9-3) at Ascot 5f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Jm Jungle (IRE) 9-2jfav (9-1) Chased leaders towards far side, overall leader final furlong, kept on, won at Goodwood 5f hcp (3) sft in Aug beating Lakota Blue (9-0) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Ancient Times 11-1 (9-5) Handy, ridden well over 1f out, soon outpaced and dropped away, last of 14, 10 1/4l behind Good Earth (9-6) at Sandown 5f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
One Night Stand 50-1 (9-1) Handy, ridden 2f out, soon well beaten, last of 14, 10l behind Vintage Clarets (8-13) at Newcastle 5f hcp (2) pol in Jun.
Nomadic Empire (IRE) 13-2 (9-10) Started very slowly and lost all chance, tailed off throughout, last of 8, dist behind Muker (8-11) at Thirsk 5f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Manila Scouse 8-11fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, challenged over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Chepstow 5f hcp (3) gs in Aug beating Get It (10-0) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ventura Express 11-2 (9-12) Front mid-division, pushed along 2f out, stayed on, not quite pace to challenge, 4th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Tinto (9-11) at Redcar 6f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Looking For Lynda (IRE) 7-1 (9-12) Led, ridden and edged left over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Show Me Show Me (8-11) at Windsor 5f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Shalaa Asker 14-1 (9-7) Towards rear, pushed along 2f out, ridden and went fourth 1f out, kept on, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Count D'Orsay (8-13) at Chester 5f hcp (4) sft in Jul.
Dig Two (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Midfield in touch, ridden over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 8, 10 3/4l behind Tanmawwy (10-2) at Windsor 6f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Copper Knight (IRE) 9-1 (9-10) Close up, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Show Me Show Me (8-11) at Windsor 5f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Kuwait City (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) In rear, pushed along 2f out, never on terms, 9th of 10, 11 3/4l behind Sharp Power (8-10) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
