tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 2f out, upsides inside final furlong, held close home
held up, headway when not clear run over 1f out, ran on to take 3rd inside final furlong, not able to trouble front pair
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong
slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden and headway when edged left over 1f out, never on terms
held up in touch in mid-division, took keen hold, ridden over 2f out, no impression until kept on final 150 yards, not able to trouble leaders
held up, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong
Mark Johnston has done well to bring Heavy Metal back after a mid-season lull and there was no fluke about his victory in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood when both Cay Verde and Euxton Hall were behind. This is a similarly fast 6f but a 3lb penalty is going to make life tougher and others are preferred today. Pearl Acclaim has done nothing wrong since making his debut at Newmarket in June, winning at Sandown and Ripon. He's worth a try at this higher level while a case can be made for July Stakes runner-up Lewisham, who had Heavy Metal behind at HQ, and Molecomb Stakes second Morawij should last the extra furlong here. The unexposed ODOOJ may just have needed the run, his first since May, when beaten a head by Flyman at Nottingham 10 days ago. It's significant that Willie Haggas deems him worthy of an entry in this much better race and he could be allowed to start at decent odds so gets the vote. C&D winner Blaine also has scope but this may be too tough at this stage of his career.
Heavy Metal 9-1 (9-0) Prominent, led over 2f out, ridden and stayed on well inside final furlong, always holding on, won at Goodwood 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gd beating Master Of War (9-0) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Blaine 7-2 (9-3) Made most, driven clear over 1f out, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, kept on when hard pressed towards finish, held on, won at York 6f 2yo mdn aut (3) gd in Jul beating Bachotheque (9-3) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Cay Verde 4-1 (9-0) Chased leaders on near side rail, ridden and hung right from over 1f out, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Heavy Metal (9-0) at Goodwood 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gd.
Euxton Hall (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Slight lead, edged off rail and headed over 2f out, stayed challenging until over 1f out, keeping on same pace in 5th and no chance when ran out of room towards finish, 5th of 8, 4l behind Heavy Metal (9-0) at Goodwood 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gd.
Lewisham 25-1 (8-12) Steadied start, held up in last pair, headway near side over 1f out, slightly hampereed 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, edged left and went 2nd post, 2nd of 7, nk behind Alhebayeb (8-12) at Newmarket 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) sft in Jul.
Morawij 2-1fav (9-0) Went right start, always prominent, led over 1f out, strongly pressed final 100 yards, headed close home, 2nd of 10, hd behind Bungle Inthejungle (9-0) at Goodwood 5f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Jul.
Odooj (IRE) 13-2 (9-5) Led to halfway, remained close up, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 4, hd behind Flyman (9-5) at Nottingham 6f 2yo nov stk (5) gf.
Pearl Acclaim (IRE) 3-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on well, pushed out, won at Ripon 6f 2yo stks (3) gd beating Ashaadd (9-5) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
