held up in touch, switched left and headway 2f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, no extra close home
held up towards rear, good headway to lead over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on but no extra when headed final strides
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up in touch, ridden and led briefly over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, ridden and no impression from 2f out
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, not clear run 1f out, ran on well close home
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out, eased
held up last, headway on rails over 1f out, switched right and ran on strongly inside final furlong, led final strides
in touch, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, one pace final furlong
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakening when hampered inside final furlong, eased
Starry Lodge has an outstanding chance of taking this under Frankie Dettori, with Counsel's Opinion and Hawridge Prince also likely to be popular and thereabouts. Starry Lodge comes into the race in a rich vein of form, having landed three of his last five starts, and been close on the two other occasions. The handicapper does not fully appear to have a grip on him, despite defeat over a trip on the short side for him last time, and with a little apprehension over his handling of this slower ground, we take Starry Lodge to score. Counsel's Opinion is another one in fair form and can be involved. He is dropping back towards a winning mark at present, but was not disgraced in defeat here over 10 furlongs to Wunderwood last time. If anything, he does seem to struggle to see out this extra quarter-of-a-mile, but that slip in the ratings will help and he may be good enough to make the frame. The one who could give the selection most to do is Hawridge Prince, and Gerald Cottrell's four-year-old steps up in trip to this mile-and-a-half for the first time here. Breeding suggests that he also might struggle to see out the race, but he has been staying on at the end of his recent races and that augurs well here. A progressive sort, we also anticipate a big run from him, but Starry Lodge is in great heart and he can help his jockey stake a further claim to the title.
