held up, ridden 2f out, never a factor
towards rear, ridden 2f out, headway inside final furlong, nearest finish
soon led, headed 4f out, tracked leaders, ridden to lead again inside final furlong, ran on
keen close up when clipped heels and lost place entering final 4f, not a factor after
raced wide keen in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, staying on when short of room inside final furlong, not recover
raced wide held up, never on terms
raced wide led early, tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
always in rear
raced wide close up, edged left entering final 4f, ridden and every chance over 1f out, hung right and no extra inside final furlong
prominent, led 4f out, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd close home
held up in touch, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, ran on to 2nd near finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on, not reach leaders
held up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, pushed along over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, headway soon after, effort when hung left inside final furlong
A very competitive finale in which most of the field would have some sort of chance. Kalk Bay overcame trouble in-running to get up close home at Newcastle in a race in which Let's Twist, now 6lb better off, finished a close-up fourth. Mezzotint is not out of this and neither is Welliesinthewater. Dutch Golden Age wasn't stopping when successful over 6f here last month and is preferred to Russian Reward, a recent winner over a mile, and also maiden winner Rockley Point. My Dad Syd was just beaten on Tapeta last time but has disappointed twice on Polytrack. PANTHER PATROL was only beaten half-a-length at Kempton last month and is only a pound higher. He still has a bit of scope over this trip so gets a tentative vote, though Titan Goddess and Mon Beau Visage are also entitled to be thereabouts.
Kalk Bay (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Close up, not clear run and switched right over 1f out, ridden and ran on to lead final strides, won at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Brilliant Vanguard (9-1) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Mezzotint (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) In rear, headway when not clear run 1f out, never involved, 6th of 9, 5l behind Chester Street (9-2) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Pearl Spectre (USA) 25-1 (9-2) Slight lead but pressed, headed 2f out, chased leader under pressure and every chance 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Alkhor (9-2) at Lingfield 6f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Welliesinthewater (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Raced wide, towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 6th of 13, 3 1/4l behind Firmdecisions (9-4) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Mon Beau Visage (IRE) 3-1fav (9-0) Keen tracked leaders, join leader after 3f, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Kalk Bay (9-2) at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Bell Heather (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, effort to challenge over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, lost place inside final furlong, one pace, 6th of 13, 5 3/4l behind Alexandrakollontai (8-13) at Newcastle 1m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Russian Reward (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Made most, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (5) pol in Nov beating Footlight (8-12) by 1l, 13 ran.
Showing Off (IRE) 18-1 (9-0) In rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor, 9th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Firmdecisions (9-6) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Panther Patrol (IRE) 4-1cfav (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 9, 1/4l behind Volition (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
My Dad Syd (USA) 3-1fav (9-6) In touch, driven to lead over 1f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 12, nk behind Amood (9-7) at Newcastle 7f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Rockley Point 6-1 (9-5) Made all, ridden 2 lengths clear 2f out, driven out, won at Chelmsford City 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct beating Wealth Tax (9-5) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Let's Twist 11-2 (8-10) Led, joined after 3f, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 10, 3/4l behind Kalk Bay (9-2) at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Titan Goddess 25-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, held up, towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on well final furlong, never reached winner, 2nd of 18, 2l behind Timeless Art (9-2) at Newmarket 1m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Heartsong (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, lost place inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Roman Holiday (9-2) at Kempton 6f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Rock Warbler (IRE) 4-1 (9-2) Held up behind, headway over 2f out, led 1f out, ridden and stayed on well final furlong, won at Newcastle 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov beating Space War (9-5) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Dutch Golden Age (IRE) 3-1jfav (9-3) Led early, tracked leaders, switched right and headway over 1f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, ran on, won at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (5) pol in Oct beating Penny Dreadful (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
