close up, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
tracked leaders in 4th, led inside final furlong, held on close home
led, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and headway 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden inside final furlong, kept on same pace
with leader, ridden inside final furlong, soon weakened
prominent, soon lost place and towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression
in rear, headway 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong
Not for the first time, FIRMDECISIONS ran poorly back over a mile last time. But he’d landed a course and distance double before that and should make a bold bid only 3lb higher today. Ballylare was ahead of Out Of The Ashes when scoring over track and trip though the latter is less exposed and should finish closer this time. Dundalk winner Miracle Ninetynine is 11lb higher on his first start for Ed Vaughan but Shypen has a shout off her current mark and Strong Challenge returns to action off a 5lb lower mark having struggled in the first half of last year.
Firmdecisions (IRE) 9-2jfav (9-4) Always towards rear, 13th of 15, 14 1/2l behind Qaffaal (8-9) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Hakam (USA) 15-2 (8-10) Held up, in mid-division, driven and effort over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 3 3/4l behind Justice Good (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Kingsley Klarion (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2 out, weakened 1f out, 9th of 10, 9 1/2l behind Steel Train (9-4) at Newcastle 7f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Strong Challenge (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching final furlong, last of 11, 17 1/2l behind Cartmell Cleave (9-7) at Newmarket 6f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Take The Helm 5-1 (9-4) In touch, lost place over 2f out, headway entering final furlong, not clear run, never able to challenge, 6th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Forceful Appeal (9-6) at Lingfield 1m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Shypen 7-2jfav (9-5) Mid-division, headway when not clear run over 1f out, soon switched right, stayed on, not trouble leaders, 4th of 10, 2 1/2l behind El Viento (9-1) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Ballylare 8-1 (9-5) Raced wide, held up, headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, driven to lead towards finish, won at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (4) pol in Dec beating Tadaany (9-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Out Of The Ashes 14-1 (9-7) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, soon every chance, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Ballylare (9-5) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Miracle Ninetynine (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Rear of mid-division, progress on inner over 2f out, ridden in 4th over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 2 3/4l behind Red Avenger (9-2) at Dundalk 1m pol in Nov.