tracked leaders, short lived effort 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, led 4th, quickened clear soon after 2 out, ran on, comfortable
pressed leader until 3rd, tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next
led, headed 4th, mainly chase winner after, ridden and outpaced soon after 2 out, plugging on when hit last
The three-year-old Khismet dropped down to Class 5 company at Newton Abbot and won nicely but a 10lb rise tempers enthusiasm. Another youngster, SKYLARK LADY (NAP), was taking on better company last time and didn't perform badly so this could prove within her capabilities but Captain Mowbray has been raised 3lb for finishing second in a lesser-grade contest at Sedgefield. Lift The Lid has done nothing to suggest he could win this while Honcho finds himself at the top of the weights after two poor runs over hurdles.
Honcho (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Prominent, took keen hold, driven over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind For Shia And Lula (9-2) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Lift The Lid (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Prominent, ridden and every chance last, weakened run-in, 6th of 14, 24 1/4l behind What A Game (10-9) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in May.
Captain Mowbray 20-1 (11-8) Held up, in rear division, headway before 3 out, challenged 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 13, 4l behind G'day Aussie (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Khismet 5-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway to track front pair 3 out, led approaching next, driven clear before last, kept on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Moulin Rouge (11-3) by 4l, 13 ran.
Skylark Lady (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Led and soon clear with one other, ridden 3 out, hit and headed next, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 15 1/4l behind Fool To Cry (11-4) at Fakenham 2m fll (3) gd in Oct.