started slowly, soon ridden along, in touch, ridden to lead 2f out, driven clear over 1f out, pushed out final furlong, eased towards finish comfortably
mid-division, ridden outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous
in touch, ridden along over 2f out, not quicken, soon outpaced and weakened over 1f out
steady start, switched right from outside draw, settled in rear, headway 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, never near to challenge
very keen towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no headway, never nearer
tracked leaders, ridden and effort inside final 2 furlong, kept on one pace from over 1f out
steady start, held up behind mid division, ridden 2f out, not impression over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to snatch 3rd post
behind mid-division, lost place 3f out and behind, headway over 1f out, never dangerous
steady start, raced keenly behind, ridden over 2f out, soon struggling and weakened
steady start, soon mid-division, headway over 1f out, ran on to take 2nd well inside final furlong, no chance with winner
soon tracked leader, ridden and brief effort over 2f out, no headway and weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on under pressure, weakened inside final furlong and lost 3rd post
in touch to 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place and beaten
SOUTH CAPE will find this easier than last time out in a valuable Ascot handicap and he can get back to winning ways at the main expense of Fathsta, Victoria Reel and King's Wonder. The selection races over his optimum trip here, and although this is a rare appearance on an artificial surface he handled it well enough previously. He has a good pitch from stall 11, and is just 1lb higher than when winning at Chester just over a year ago, so we will side with him. Fathsta has been in consistent form of late, and the fact that he has not won in 12 starts since scoring at York in May suggests, like his recent efforts, that his next success is not far away. Victoria Reel was beaten by perhaps too much weight but also the size of the field when held up at Ascot last time. She doesn't have the best of draws here and so the same tactics may be applied and she is going to have to hope for a traffic-free run to get in a blow. King's Wonder has finished in the frame on four of his last five starts and won the other, so he's in great nick and both the surface and trip suit, so he is very much respected and can go close again. Lizard Island is an interesting contender who should relish the surface, while Irony is back down to a winning mark if you include his claim from the very useful David Probert in calculations, and a win would be no shock. South Cape is the suggestion here.
Russki (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Led after 1f, headed 4f out, led again over 2f out, no extra when headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 16, 8l behind Premio Loco (9-10) at Kempton 1m hcap (2) pol in Sept.
Lizard Island (USA) 20-1 (8-13) Held up, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 12th of 15, 13l behind Kalahari Gold (8-13) at Newbury 7f lst stk (1) gd in Sept.
Presumptive (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Always in rear, outpaced final 2f, last of 11, 14l behind Signor Peltro (8-8) at Goodwood 7f hcp 0-105 (2) sft in Aug.
Pride of Nation (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Held up in touch, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 9l behind Virtual (8-6) at Doncaster 1m hcap (2) sft in Sept.
Fathsta (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Dwelt, soon tracking leaders racing keenly, ridden over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, gaining towards finish, took 2nd final strides, 2nd of 12, nk behind Guilded Warrior (8-7) at Chester 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Sept.
South Cape 33-1 (8-12) Mid-division far side, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 29, 4 1/2l behind Furnace (8-11) at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gd in Sept.
Lindoro 25-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, keeping on when not clear run towards finish, 6th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Guilded Warrior (8-7) at Chester 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Sept.
Halsion Chancer 13-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 13, 9l behind Artistic License (8-12) at Great Leighs 6f hcap (4) pol in Sept.
Silver Hotspur 20-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, always in rear, 13th of 14, 24l behind Storm Sir (8-8) at Great Leighs 1m hcap (3) pol in Sept.
Victoria Reel 12-1 (9-4) Always rear division, 9th of 16, 14l behind Mawatheeq (9-4) at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp (4) gd in Sept.
King's Wonder 10-3fav (9-5) Pressed winner, ridden to lead just over 1f out, driven, no extra and headed final 50 yards, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Peter Island (9-1) at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Sept.
My Gacho (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Pressed leader until ran wide entering straight, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 14, 9l behind Wyatt Earp (9-1) at Chester 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sept.
Irony (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) With leader, came wide and led 3f out, headed over 1f out, faded final furlong, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Grande Annee (9-6) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
