held up, headway approaching 4th, ridden after 4 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, chased winner 3 out, hit next, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon no impression
prominent, led 6th, ridden and headed approaching next, one pace when hit last
led to 6th, weakening when not fluent 3 out
held up, headway to lead approaching 3 out, clear from next
with leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
Categorical gets the vote over Flying Doctor, Touch Of Ivory and Midnight Diamond. Keith Reveley has his team in good shape at present, and so despite having to shoulder a penalty, hopes are high that Categorical can get back recent losses. A beaten favourite at Newcastle 17-days ago when never getting into it from the rear, he had previously come from behind to score at Wetherby, so despite his lapse, Richie McGrath will probably save him for the finish again. He should at least hold Touch Of Ivory on latest running, and is the pick. Flying Doctor is going the right way and could be booked for a place at the very least, while Midnight Diamond, although a shade exposed, appears to best of the remainder. Any support for Richard Ford's newcomer Something Simple would be interesting as well, but for the winner we return to Categorical.
Categorical 13-8fav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden and hung left from next, kept on, no impression, 4th of 12, 8l behind River Logic (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 3yo nov hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Flying Doctor 66-1 (10-5) Mid-division, effort 3 out, driven and kept on to go 3rd last, no impression, 3rd of 15, 13l behind Polinamix (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Just Observing 12-1 (10-12) Raced wide, with leaders, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 28l behind Polinamix (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Midnight Diamond (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 5th, 6th of 11, 26l behind Hi Dancer (10-13) at Hereford 2m 1f cnd nov hcp hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Soho Square 50-1 (10-12) Always behind, 9th of 15, 24l behind Polinamix (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Something Simple (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Chased leaders 10f, no extra, 5th of 11, 22l behind Saltrio (11-2) at W'hampton 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol in Nov (Flat).
Storm Prospect 8-1 (8-8) Held up, headway over 2f out, led just inside final furlong, ran on, won at Bath 1m 5f mdn hcp (5) gf in Sept beating Desert Storm (9-9) by 3l, 15 ran (Flat).
Touch of Ivory (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) In touch, mistake 3rd, effort after 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 12, 10l behind River Logic (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 3yo nov hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Cuccinello (IRE) 100-1 (9-12) Held up, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 29l behind European Dream (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
