keen close up, ridden 2f out, no impression
led 1f, prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
led after 1f out, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on one pace, lost 3rd near finish
left at start
prominent, led 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, soon edged left, ran on
close up, headway approaching final furlong, led inside final furlong, ran on
close up, ridden 2f out, kept on to go 3rd near finish, not trouble leaders
Whitecrest is closely matched with First In Command on their run together at Windsor last month but John Spearing's sprinter would have preferred a faster surface. He was well behind WASEEM FARIS on soft ground at Brighton In October. Mick Channon's charge is only a pound higher today and, with Richard Hughes taking over the reins, is fancied to defy top weight as last month's Chepstow scorer Edged Out now looks too high in the handicap. Steel Rain will love the going but has looked a shadow of his former self this season.
Waseem Faris (IRE) 25-1 (8-7) Held up towards rear, ridden halfway, keeping on when not much room inside final furlong, 7th of 21, 4l behind Inxile (9-3) at Goodwood 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul.
Whitecrest 8-1 (9-7) Chased leading trio, headway on outside over 2f out, went 2nd under pressure approaching final furlong, one pace and no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Ada Lovelace (8-12) at Brighton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Edged Out 25-1 (9-12) Close up, ridden and every chance over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 5l behind Flash City (9-5) at Nottingham 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.
Steel Rain 25-1 (9-1) Held up on rail, kept on inside final furlong, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 6l behind Random Success (9-0) at Newbury 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Threave 12-1 (9-2) Slowly away, held up in rear, took keen hold, not clear run over 2f out, soon switched right, some headway over 1f out, no impression, 9th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Steel Rain (8-13) at Nottingham 5f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.
First In Command (IRE) 6-1 (9-6) Raced wide close up until switched right 3f out to stands side rail, in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on to go 3rd inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Captain Dunne (10-0) at Thirsk 5f app hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.
Avertor 20-1 (9-13) In rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Consistant (9-5) at Leicester 6f app hcp (6) gf in Jul.