raced wide in touch, headway to press leaders 5f out, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
in rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, nearest finish
in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on one pace final furlong
soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up, headway 2f out, switched right over 1f out, led entering final furlong, ridden out
towards rear, ridden and weakened 2f out
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Nonrunner
Whinging Willie has managed to win eight times but not for over a year when he scored from an 8lb higher mark at Epsom. He's gradually dropped to a mark he should be winning from soon. Hope Is High, five times a winner on Turf, has only had three all-weather starts and is yet to score though he ran well in a better race than this at Bath last time. Flood Defence has travelled a long way for this though is still a few pounds high while LANDUE (NAP) is 13lb higher than when his winning sequence began. But Marcus Tregoning's charge has looked better with every run and, with the longer trip likely to be in his favour, he gets the vote. Gemini is an obvious threat having followed her victory at Bath with a very hard-fought success over the course and distance though a 6lb rise makes this slightly more difficult.
Whinging Willie (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Keen in mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, never able to challenge, 4th of 13, 8 1/2l behind Tralee Hills (9-8) at Bath 1m 4f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Spanish History (USA) 10-1 (9-3) In rear, outpaced 5f out, 11th of 12, 25 3/4l behind Mystic Meg (9-5) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp (5) gf in Oct.
Hope Is High 6-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, never a threat, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Xinbama (8-2) at Bath 1m 6f hcp (2) fm in Sep.
Flood Defence (IRE) 9-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 15, 4 3/4l behind Morning Skye (9-9) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Landue 3-1fav (9-7) Held up towards rear, not clear run briefly when headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct beating Wallflower (8-4) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Art Of Swing (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 12, 22 3/4l behind Arabic Culture (9-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Gemini 3-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, edged left and strongly pressed near finish, all out, won at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Sep beating Yasir (8-9) by shd, 11 ran.
Masters Apprentice (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Pushed along in rear, never dangerous, 11th of 16, 22 1/2l behind Divin Bere (9-4) at Bath 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Maknifico 13-2 (9-1) In touch, lost place over 5f out, soon behind, eased, 12th of 13, dist behind Amitie Waltz (9-7) at Bath 1m 4f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Butterfield (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Held up, ridden over 4f out, never near leaders, 7th of 12, 17 1/4l behind Mystic Meg (9-5) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp (5) gf in Oct.