tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, driven and hung left over 1f out, not much room when unable to quicken inside final furlong, soon switched right, kept on
tracked leader, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, hung left over 1f out, headed and hung right entering final furlong, no impression on winner
held up, ridden over 2f out, headway and switched right over 1f out, led entering final furlong, clear towards finish, comfortably
A test of stamina for these two-year-olds but MASSAM is clear at the weights if lasting home. He completed a double in September including a decent handicap over a mile at Newcastle and Mark Johnston’s colt should make a bold bid. Today’s distance shouldn’t prove a problem for Aspire Tower given he won over 1m1f in soft going at Newmarket a week ago and he’s preferred to Facethepuckout, a winner over 7f in Ireland for Joseph O’Brien and having his first start for new connections today. Spanish Mission made up plenty of ground to take third over a mile here on last month’s debut but needs a big step forward to figure in this.
Aspire Tower (IRE) 5-4fav (9-7) In rear stands side, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, led narrowly over 1f out, held on well towards finish, won at Newmarket 1m 1f (4) sft in Nov beating Damon Runyon (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Facethepuckout (IRE) 10-1 (9-12) Pushed along to soon track leaders, almost on terms halfway, under pressure in 3rd 2f out, weakened 1 1/2f out, 11th of 12, 14l behind Arcturus (9-8) at Leopardstown 1m hcp Good - Yielding in Oct.
Massam 8-1 (9-1) Set generous pace, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 29 1/2l behind Persian King (9-1) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Oct.
Spanish Mission (USA) 12-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, went never nearer 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Red October (9-2) at Chelmsford City 1m stks (4) pol in Oct.
