towards rear, pushed along and headway on outer in 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong
held up in rear, some headway on inner in 4th before halfway, 3rd approaching straight, pushed along 2f out and 4th over 1f out, no impression final furlong
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along to lead early straight, ridden over 1f out and soon headed, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong
led early, tracked leaders and 3rd halfway, pushed along and dropped to rear early straight, ridden and no impression 2f out, no extra from over 1f out
prominent and led after 1f, pushed along and headed early straight, 4th and ridden over 2f out, 3rd 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
jinked and unseated rider from stalls
Aidan O'Brien often uses this race as a step towards the Cup route and that looks the preferred option for SANTIAGO. Last year's Queen's Vase and Irish Derby winner ended his campaign finishing fourth to Galileo Chrome in the St Leger, with Sunchart well beaten, and can return to winning ways. The winner's yard is represented by both Baron Samedi, last year's most improved horse who went up 47lb in the ratings culminating in a Group 2 victory in heavy conditions at Longchamp, and Master Of Reality, a regular in staying events at this sort of level though the ground could be a bit lively for him. The 2019 Cesarewitch winner Stratum had been racing at a very high level before returning to something like form at Gowran.
Baron Samedi (8-10) won at ParisLongchamp 1m 3f Grp 2 stks hvy in Oct beating Mare Australis (8-10) by hd, 8 ran.
Santiago (IRE) 5-2fav (9-1) Held up, headway approaching 2f out, soon every chance, ridden and unable to quicken towards finish, 4th of 11, 1 1/4l behind Galileo Chrome (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Master Of Reality (IRE) (8-11) 15th of 23, 10 1/2l behind Twilight Payment (8-10) at Flemington 2m Grp 1 hcp gd in Nov.
Stratum 6-4fav (9-7) Prominent and disputed lead early, tracked leader and 2nd halfway, pushed along approaching straight and closer 2f out, ridden and headway to lead over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Gowran Park 1m 6f sft in Apr beating Springbank (9-10) by 4l, 5 ran.
Emperor Of The Sun (IRE) 11-1 (9-8) Always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along and no impression approaching straight, no extra, 17th of 18, 12l behind Halimi (9-10) at Leopardstown 1m 5f hcp gd in Sep.
Sunchart 18-1 (9-7) Soon led, pressed over 2f out, headed under 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression on leader, kept on final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Broome (9-7) at Naas 1m 2f lst stks (1) sft in Mar.