led, ridden and headed 2f out, no extra
held up in touch, led 2f out, kept on well
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to chase winner inside final furlong, no impression
tracked leaders and keen, every chance and hung left approaching 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
always towards rear
slowly into stride, soon well behind, never on terms
always towards rear
Vicious Warrior is nominated here ahead of Celtic Step and Emerald Bay. Course and distance winner Vicious Warrior likes to get his toe in and, being just two pounds above a winning mark, looks to be a leading player here. Smokey Oakey is also a course and distance winner - he is four pounds above a winning mark - and has won on good to soft but he has never raced on going more testing than that. Celtic Step comes here as a lightly-raced proven soft-ground performer that hails from the Mark Johnston yard. He comes here fresh and his chance is respected. Emerald Bay has dropped to a winning mark from earlier in the campaign and holds form on testing going, and Montrachet is lightly raced enough to be given some thought as she too has won on testing going. Overall, though, we will side with Vicious Warrior.
Vicious Warrior 9-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on under pressure, just held on, won at Ayr 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct beating Rudry Dragon (8-11) by a shd, 13 ran.
Smokey Oakey (IRE) 5-1 (8-9) Took keen hold, not much room after 1f, mid-division, headway over 1f out, squeezed out entering final furlong, stayed on same pace, 5th of 12, 3l behind Buccellati (8-10) at Chester 1m 2f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Celtic Step 9-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, led 3f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 5l behind Kaateb (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Emerald Bay (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon one pace, 6th of 13, 6l behind Wigwam Willie (9-3) at Ayr 1m hcap (4) sft in Sept.
Osteopathic Remedy (IRE) 9-2fav (9-2) Raced centre, tracked leaders, lost place over 2f out, 7th of 13, 10l behind Giant Slalom (8-13) at Doncaster 7f 3yo app hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Montrachet 9-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 12, 3l behind Steam Cuisine (9-5) at Newbury 7f fll hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Fern House (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden halfway and weakened final furlong, 13th of 17, 8l behind Jadan (8-10) at Ayr 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Oct.
Scotty's Future (IRE) 50-1 (8-0) Slowly into stride, always outpaced, last of 15, 17l behind Pitbull (8-10) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Oct.
Stanley Wolfe (IRE) 50-1 (8-3) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, soon outpaced, 6th of 11, 9l behind Brut (9-8) at Hamilton 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Sept.