towards rear, chased along halfway, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
mid-division, effort over 3f out, no impression
towards rear, headway when edged left over 2f out, staying on until weakened final furlong
in touch, ridden to dispute lead well over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, ridden along and headway over 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong
prominent, led well over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on same pace
led, headed well over 2f out, soon beaten
prominent, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
prominent, ridden along 3f out, soon beaten
mid-division, headway over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
always behind
reared at start and always rear division
jumped right at start and held up, smooth progress 2f out, shaken up to lead approaching final furlong, ran on
held up behind leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
mid-division, effort over 3f out, never dangerous
towards rear, smooth headway on wide outside over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
A decent contest for the ordinary money on offer with plenty of last-time winners and Mukhber gets the vote ahead of Boy Blue, Collection, Bigfanofthat and Doon Haymer. The selection made an eyecatching performance when staying on strongly to win over this trip on soft ground at Headquarters. He is bred to be at his best at around this trip and the form of that maiden win is the best on offer here so with any improvement he'll take a world of beating. Boy Blue looks pretty good value at the forecast double-figure odds. The 'Dandy' Nicholls-trained colt put up an improved effort to land his maiden at the third time of asking in September and this step up in trip should suit, so he can figure prominently. Collection should also be involved in the shake-up. William Haggas's colt had two quick runs in succession in the autumn and aquitted himself well in winning at Newcastle on the second of those. That form is good enough to give him a decent shout if he has wintered well and also if he handles this slightly quicker surface. Bigfanofthat won on his Ayr debut, a sound surface suits, and this step up in trip should also be right up his street, so he can't be discounted, while Doon Haymer and Pinkindie both need to improve a bit, but that's not beyond the realms of possibility. It's open then, but Mukhber gets the tentative vote.
Pinkindie (USA) 8-13fav (9-3) Pulled hard, held up in rear, headway to chase leader over 1f out, driven to lead towards finish, won at Yarmouth 1m 2yo mdn (4) gf in Sept beating Robby Bobby (9-3) by a nk, 7 ran.
Boy Blue 8-1 (9-3) Made all, ridden over 1f out, held on well towards finish, won at Ayr 7f 2yo mdn (4) sft in Sept beating Lady Sorcerer (8-9) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Ellemujie 16-1 (9-2) Held up behind, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, 4th of 16, 4l behind Jack Dawkins (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 2yo hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Flight Plan 20-1 (9-7) Prominent, chased leader halfway to over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 10l behind Bronze Cannon (9-2) at Kempton 1m 2yo hcp 0-85 (5) pol in Oct.
Mukhber 7-2 (9-3) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden and edged right over 1f out, ran on to lead close home, won at Newmarket 1m 2yo mdn (3) sft in Oct beating Irish Mayhem (9-3) by a nk, 10 ran.
Silver Rime (FR) 15-8fav (9-3) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division, headway 3f out, soon ridden, led entering final furlong, stayed on, won at Goodwood 7f 2yo mdn auc (5) gs in Sept beating Shanzu (8-12) by 2l, 16 ran.
Doon Haymer (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (9-3) Made all, ridden over 2f out, kept on well, won at Ayr 7f 2yo mdn (5) hvy in Nov beating Ninefineirishmen (9-0) by 3l, 10 ran.
Collection (IRE) 4-9fav (9-0) Keen early, in touch, headway to lead over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left, stayed on well final furlong, won at Newcastle 7f 2yo mdn (5) gs in Oct beating Solar Spirit (8-11) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Bigfanofthat (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Ayr 6f 2yo mdn (4) gd in May beating Atabaas Pride (9-3) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Prince Hamlet (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Made most, pressed from over 1f out, driven out, won at Southwell 1m 2yo mdn (5) fbs in Dec beating Clovis (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Horatio Carter 11-2 (9-3) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 7l behind Incomparable (9-3) at Doncaster 6f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Nov.
Averoo 50-1 (8-11) Fly jumped start, always in rear duo, never a factor, 9th of 10, 13l behind Cordell (9-4) at Kempton 1m 3yo hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Perks (IRE) 11-2jt-fav (9-3) Prominent, ridden and every chance over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 13, 5l behind Fr Dominic (9-3) at Newmarket 7f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Sept.
Khazina (USA) 5-1 (9-0) Mid-division, chased along halfway, headway over 1f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Pontefract 6f 3yo mdn (5) gs in Mar beating Everything (9-0) by a nk, 16 ran.
Castles In The Air 10-3 (8-10) Tracked leader, every chance 1f out to well inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 7, hd behind Fabuleux Cherie (8-6) at Lingfield 6f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Dubai Petal (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 18, 3 1/2l behind Generous Thought (9-2) at Doncaster 6f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Nov.
