took keen hold, close up, headway 2f out, soon every chance, ridden and kept on one pace
in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
slow into stride, pushed along towards rear, headway on inner over 1f out, soon every chance, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, led approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on
keen tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
prominent, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
raced wide prominent, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
raced wide in touch, very wide into straight 2f out, not trouble leaders
led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, no extra
towards rear, headway and switched right over 1f out, ridden and ran on, nearest finish
Never In Red struggled under a penalty last time having won at Brighton earlier and it could be the same story here. Lyricist Voice is preferred on recent placed efforts at Kempton and has every chance but FRESHWATER CLIFFS gets the vote. The latter floundered in the mud at Yarmouth on his latest start but found only one too good over track and trip before that and first-time headgear may bring further improvement. Billy Button needs to step up on previous efforts over shorter trips and Marhaba Salamah is preferred to stablemate and fellow newcomer Trigger Happy of the rest.
Never In Red (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Raced keenly, tracked leader, effort 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon lost place, outpaced final furlong, 8th of 13, 6 1/4l behind Wadi Al Salaam (9-2) at Newcastle 7f stks (6) pol in Oct.
Burning (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Towards rear, stayed on centre in straight, headway 2f out, 5th and weakened final furlong, 5th of 16, 13l behind Overwrite (9-5) at Brighton 7f stks (5) gs in Oct.
Trigger Happy (IRE) Gutaifan colt out of Boom And Bloom.
Forus 50-1 (9-6) Started slowly and awkwardly away, keen in rear, never a factor, 10th of 12, 8 1/4l behind Good Reason (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f (5) pol in Oct.
Freshwater Cliffs 9-1 (9-7) Took keen hold, held up behind leaders carried right and weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 30 1/4l behind Parikarma (9-7) at Yarmouth 7f (5) hvy in Oct.
Scorpio's Dream 100-1 (9-0) Dwelt, mid-division, weakened 2f out, last of 11, at Kempton 7f stks (5) pol in Oct.
Billy Button (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Prominent, driven over 2f out, kept on same pace, ridden over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 5th of 8, 6 3/4l behind Shammah (9-0) at Windsor 5f stks (5) gs in Jun.
Lyricist Voice 2-1 (9-2) Held up in mid-division, switched left over 2f out, headway over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, just held, 2nd of 12, hd behind Overpriced Mixer (9-9) at Kempton 7f stks (6) pol in Oct.
Evaporust (IRE) 150-1 (9-2) Held up, never dangerous, 8th of 9, 15 1/2l behind Progressive Rating (9-9) at Wolverhampton 6f stks (4) pol in Oct.
High Maintenance Due Diligence filly out of Random.
Prairie Moppins (USA) 33-1 (9-0) Towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never on terms, 9th of 11, 12 3/4l behind Lethal Talent (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f fll stks (6) pol in Oct.
Marhaba Salamah (IRE) No Nay Never filly out of Isontonic.
