slowly away, always behind
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace
tracked leaders, ridden and challenged over 1f out, not quicken well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, outpaced over 3f out
Suits Me is selected here ahead of Boundless Prospect and Hawkit. With his stable in form, and with a proven liking for soft going, Suits Me might provide the answer to this contest. For us, a four-pounds rise for his recent success does not look prohibitive. Dropped six pounds for his Nottingham effort last time, soft-ground winner Boundless Prospect comes into the reckoning but the going may not suit Ahlawy. Rudry Dragon is another that will not mind soft going and holds place claims, while Hawkit now races from his August good-to-soft winning mark so has to be given some thought based on that line of reasoning. Finally, if there is still a spin of the wheel left in Blue Spinnaker, he is well handicapped on old form but, for the selection, we return to Suits Me.
Ahlawy (IRE) 33-1 (8-8) Struggling from over 3f out, always towards rear, last of 14, 36l behind Heaven Knows (9-0) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Suits Me 4-1jt-fav (9-13) Made all, driven over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, just held on, won at Doncaster 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Prince Samos (9-10) by a hd, 15 ran.
Boundless Prospect (USA) 10-1 (9-3) Held up behind leaders, ridden along and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Red Somerset (8-12) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Oct.
Rudry Dragon (IRE) 7-1 (8-11) In rear, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 13, shd behind Vicious Warrior (9-8) at Ayr 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Hawkit (USA) 20-1 (8-11) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, no impression from over 1f out, 8th of 13, 8l behind Vicious Warrior (9-8) at Ayr 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Getrah 20-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear in centre group, pushed along halfway, never dangerous, last of 13, 12l behind Giant Slalom (8-13) at Doncaster 7f 3yo app hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Blue Spinnaker (IRE) 25-1 (8-4) Held up, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous, 12th of 13, 13l behind Vicious Warrior (9-8) at Ayr 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.