chased leaders, hard driven approaching halfway, soon lost place
held up in touch, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up towards rear, under pressure 2f out, hung left over 1f out, never dangerous
led, ridden when headed over 2f out, rallied over 1f out, weakened final furlong
steadied start, held up in rear, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, never a threat
tracked leaders, led over 1f out, hard ridden inside final furlong, stayed on well
dwelt, pulled hard in rear, headway over 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on well under pressure
ridden forward and soon prominent, led over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra closing stages
took keen hold in midfield, headway over 1f out, never on terms
Nonrunner
El Duque had little chance up against higher-rated opposition in a seller at Lingfield but won over track and trip in November and has the beating of Anjuna Beach on collateral form. The veteran Mr Chocolate Drop won a race in April last year so cannot be easily written off after placing on his latest start but THELLO makes more appeal. The latter left his previous form behind to score at Southwell last time and Tony Hamilton keeps the winning partnership intact for this.
Blue Melody Girl (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Towards rear, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 14, dist behind Heavens Eyes (10-0) at Southwell 1m mdn hcp (6) pol in Jul.
Ela Goog La Mou 14-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, ridden to lead briefly over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 15l behind Power Up (9-4) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Pipers Piping (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) In touch, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 9l behind Exit Europe (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
El Duque 25-1 (9-4) Dwelt raced wide held up, headway to track leader 4f out, soon ridden, lost place over 2f out, last of 8, 23l behind Seek The Fair Land (8-12) at Lingfield 7f stks (6) pol in Dec.
Je T'aime Encore 12-1 (9-3) Raced wide in touch, outpaced 3f out, last of 8, 9 3/4l behind Turnbury (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (6) pol in Dec.
Thello 7-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, pushed along halfway, headway over 2f out, ridden to join leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec beating Berkshire Beauty (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Anjuna Beach (USA) 8-1 (9-1) Slowly away, in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3 3/4l behind Greek Islands (9-6) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Hagree (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, well beaten final 2f, 5th of 11, 22 1/4l behind Trust Me Boy (9-7) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) pol in Aug.
Mr Chocolate Drop (IRE) 22-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway on inner over 2f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Foylesideview (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Schottische 7-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 13l behind Greek Islands (9-6) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.