Four-year-olds have an excellent record in this contest, though not many will have spotted last year's winner Norse Blues at 50/1. Sandown winner Gaul Wood has decent claims as he handles soft ground and so does Educate, who ended last season on the up with a double but is 8lb higher today. He beat Nameitwhatyoulike before the latter also rattled up a couple of wins and Mick Easterby's charge is another with underfoot conditions to suit. Newmarket winner Ocean Tempest has the beating of Hi There and Satanic Beat on collateral form but hasn't raced since July and the speculative vote goes to one with more recent form in HAAF A SIXPENCE. He clipped heels and unseated on his only previous start on Turf but has won three of his six outings on Polytrack and there should be more to come from Ralph Beckett's charge. Of the older horses, Garde Cotiere has come in for support despite finishing last on his only start since 2010 and Chosen Character has the more solid form with a victory in testing ground at Haydock in September.
Anderiego (IRE) 40-1 (9-4) Raced far side, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 17th of 26, 10l behind Jack Dexter (8-13) at Ascot 7f Apprentice Handicap (0-100) (3yo+) (2) sft in Oct.
Chosen Character (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Led, joined 3f out, kept on gamely until ridden and headed over 1f out, soon carried slightly left, kept on same pace and well held, kept on to hold 2nd, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Benzanno (8-4) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-95 (3) hvy in Oct.
Bancnuanaheireann (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, outpaced over 2f out, headway when hampered over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Viewpoint (8-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Dec.
Levitate 66-1 (8-9) Raced far side, towards rear, pushed along and struggling 3f out, never a factor, 27th of 33, 24l behind Bronze Angel (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Dubai Dynamo 5-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden and headway entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 1 3/4l behind Benzanno (8-8) at Lingfield 1m hcap (2) pol.
Garde Cotiere (USA) 3-1fav (9-6) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, soon weakened and eased, last of 12, 29l behind Arabian Star (9-0) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gf in May.
Gaul Wood (IRE) 9-4fav (8-13) Mid-division centre, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Jake's Destiny (8-13) at Ascot 1m stks 0-90 (3) sft in Oct.
Myboyalfie (USA) 14-1 (8-11) Chased leader far side group, ridden over 1f out, stayed on, 5th of 20, 2 3/4l behind Tartiflette (8-5) at Doncaster 7f hcp 105 (2) gd in Nov.
Educate 16-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, held up behind, headway over 2f out, driven to lead just inside final furlong, edged left and kept on final 100 yards, won at York 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) hvy in Oct beating Deepsand (9-6) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Nameitwhatyoulike 11-4fav (9-3) Keen early tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, won at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Nov beating Uncle Dermot (8-8) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Frog Hollow 25-1 (8-12) In rear, ridden halfway, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 11, 4l behind Tarooq (9-6) at Wolverhampton 6f hcap (2) pol.
Roninski (IRE) 13-2 (9-2) Chased leaders disputing 4th, ridden well over 1f out, weakened quickly over 1f out, last of 11, 8l behind Atlantis Crossing (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
King Of Eden (IRE) 66-1 (9-3) Held up, pushed along over 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 10, 12l behind Solar Deity (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f Listed stks (1) pol.
Ocean Tempest 33-1 (8-8) Took keen hold, chased leaders, led entering final furlong, strongly pressed last strides, just held on, won at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) hvy in Jul beating Fire Ship (8-5) by ns, 8 ran.
Yojimbo (IRE) 9-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, hard driven approaching final furlong, stayed on gamely, won at Doncaster 1m app hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct beating Dubai Hills (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Takeitfromalady (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Dwelt in touch in rear, ridden 3f out, no impression, last of 7, 5l behind Kickingthelilly (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Satanic Beat (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Mid-division, driven 3f out, weakened 2f out, 9th of 14, 36l behind The Tiger (9-1) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) hvy in Oct.
Haaf A Sixpence 5-2fav (9-5) Chased leaders, headway over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 2l behind Light From Mars (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Extraterrestrial 16-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 8l behind Myboyalfie (9-7) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Hi There (IRE) 4-1 (8-7) Dwelt in rear, wide into straight 2f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, not reached leaders, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Fire Ship (9-5) at Pontefract 1m 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Oct.
Barren Brook 25-1 (8-11) Slowly away, in rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway over 2f out, never dangerous, 8th of 15, 19l behind First Mohican (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct.
Mr Spiggott (IRE) 11-4 (9-5) In touch, ridden 3f out, not trouble leaders, 5th of 7, 10l behind Boonga Roogeta (8-4) at Newmarket 1m Apprentice Handicap (0-85) (3yo) (4) sft in Nov.
