held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, stayed on well closing stages, nearest finish
tracked leader, effort when hung right over 1f out, no extra final furlong
steadied and hampered start, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, no impression
keen tracking leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, faded final furlong
went right start, in touch, headway when carried right over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon hung left under pressure, ran on
in touch, effort on inside over 1f out, never able to challenge
Unex El Greco is struggling but Power Game and Pactolus ended the year with doubles on the all-weather, though both step up in class for this. Ansaab has come up short in both starts to date in this grade but First Mohican scored over 1m6f at this level on his latest start at Wolverhampton. Solar Deity is usually thereabouts but his losing run stretches back to 2013 so WHISPERING WARRIOR (NAP) is preferred. The latter wasn’t beaten far despite finishing only eighth behind Battalion, rated 106, in the Listed Churchill Stakes at Lingfield and David Simcock's charge should find this an easier task.
Solar Deity (IRE) 11-2 (9-10) In touch, ridden inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 10 1/4l behind Second Wave (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
First Mohican 13-2 (9-13) Held up, good headway on outside over 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, stayed on, all out, (hand timed), won at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Dec beating Ballynanty (8-5) by nk, 8 ran.
Whispering Warrior (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Held up behind, outpaced 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to chase leaders inside final furlong, never nearer, 8th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Battalion (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Unex El Greco 50-1 (8-10) Towards rear, never on terms, 9th of 12, 10 3/4l behind Mindurownbusiness (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Ansaab 12-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Barye (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Power Game 2-1fav (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, driven out, won at Kempton 1m hcp (4) pol in Sep beating Si Senor (9-10) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Pactolus (IRE) 2-1fav (8-11) Held up in close 5th, headway on outside over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, led near finish, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Dec beating Bromyard (8-11) by nk, 6 ran.