steadied start, took keen hold in last pair, ran wide on bend over 4f out, puhed along and outpaced over 2f out, soon beaten
tracked leaders and keen, pushed along over 2f out, went 2nd approaching final furlong, ridden and pressed winner briefly inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
raced keenly, led for 1f, tracked winner, every chance 2f out, lost 2nd just over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up in last pair on inside, pushed along over 2f out, not clear run and switched right 2f out not clear run and switched right again over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
tracked leader, led after 1f and set steady pace, quickened over 2f out, ridden approaching final furlong, pressed briefly inside final furlong, found extra towards finish
raced keenly, soon tracking leaders on inside, pushed long over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
Manton Grange and the less exposed Romanor share the same handicap rating with the latter preferred. Fiendish has the more recent form with placed efforts on the all-weather and didn’t quite get home when third over 1m2f last time. But INTERNATIONAL LAW went close over a mile at Newbury in October and he gets the vote on his return with first-time headgear applied. Desert Explorer ran well at Kempton on his recent introduction and Aware is expected to improve after a modest debut at Lingfield.
Eben Dubai (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Keen close up, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 5th of 8, 14 3/4l behind Resonant (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 2f mdn stks (4) gf in May.
Manton Grange 4-1 (8-12) Chased leaders stands side, outpaced 3f out, lost place over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 19 1/4l behind Cincuenta Pasos (9-10) at Chepstow 7f hcp (4) sft in Sep.
Aware (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, always behind, 7th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Melting Dew (9-5) at Lingfield 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Desert Explorer (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Slowly away, towards rear, headway from over 2f out, went 3rd and stayed on inside final furlong, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Archer's Arrow (8-13) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Apr.
International Law 14-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Rosarno (9-5) at Newbury 1m mdn stks (4) gs in Oct.
Fiendish (USA) 2-1 (9-0) Tracked winner, pushed along over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Curlew River (9-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f mdn fll stks (4) pol in Apr.
Act Swiftly (IRE) Requinto gelding out of Silk Point.
Geordielad Geordieland gelding out of Adees Dancer.
Romanor 8-1 (9-5) Steadied start, held up last, taken to centre of course 2f out, ridden and no impression when hung left over 1f out, modest 4th last strides, 4th of 6, 3 1/4l behind Camerone (9-0) at Brighton 1m mdn stks (5) gd in Oct.