steadied start, held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong
held up in rear, ridden and hung left from over 1f out, beaten when short of room towards finish
in rear, some headway under pressure over 1f out, never nearer
mid-division, headway to go 3rd approaching 2f out, ridden to chase winner briefly over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
dwelt, held up in rear, ridden, hung left and headway to chase winner over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
made all, ridden clear well over 1f out, in no danger final furlong, comfortable
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along and hit rail over 2f out, kept on never dangerous
keen, chased winner until approaching 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
dwelt, in rear, never near leaders
Three or four of these are likely to dominate the market, with our preference being for FANTASY FIGHTER, although challenges are expected from Mind Alert and Westwood Dawn. The selection is one of only two course and distance winners in the field, the other being joint bottom weight Gone'n'dunnett. After an autumn of knocking on the door, the Quinn runner finally got home first here at the 14th time of asking earlier in the month, and followed that up with a similar success at Lingfield. Like this they weren't exactly full of hot prospects, and he's not always the most straightforward of rides, but he's good enough to win this lowly contest. He's got a pound or two in hand on a number of rivals, including the other two on our shortlist. Westwood Dawn keeps finding one or two too good. Mind Alert hasn't won since January, and never off as a high a mark as he's on now. It's his first run at the track. It's not a contest to get the blood pumping, but there has to be a winner, and we think the most likely is Fantasy Fighter.
Mind Alert 17-2 (8-12) Switched left soon after start, held up in rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on to go 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Mister Thatcher (8-5) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol.
Westwood Dawn 18-1 (9-0) Towards rear and soon chased along, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Lithaam (8-3) at Southwell 5f hcp (6) fbs.
Duke Of Milan (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, strong burst between horses to lead entering final furlong, ran on, caught post, 2nd of 11, shd behind Kaystar Ridge (8-11) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Bateleur 6-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, keen, led after 1f, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 8, 27l behind Romany Nights (8-10) at Yarmouth 7f app hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Fantasy Fighter (IRE) 6-4fav (8-7) Mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden and hung left from over 1f out, kept on to lead close home, won at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol beating Bollin Franny (8-10) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Helping Hand (IRE) 85-40fav (9-0) Prominent, ridden halfway, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 7l behind This Ones For Pat (8-13) at Southwell 5f hcp (6) fbs.
Hollow Jo 12-1 (8-10) Towards rear, soon ridden along, headway over 1f, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind This Ones For Pat (8-13) at Southwell 5f hcp (6) fbs.
Berrymead 28-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway 2f out, soon ridden and kept on same pace, 6th of 10, 7l behind Now You See Me (9-0) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Honest Value (IRE) 50-1 (8-13) With leader, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, 13l behind Musical Script (8-13) at Kempton 5f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Calabaza 12-1 (8-10) Raced wide, in touch, pushed along over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 11, 21l behind Bold Diva (9-0) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Gone'n'dunnett (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 11th of 14, 19l behind This Ones For Eddy (9-4) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Marvin Gardens 40-1 (9-3) Made all, clear when ridden well over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, unchallenged, won at W'hampton 6f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Nov beating North South Divide (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Whistleupthewind 33-1 (8-11) In lead 4f out, headed over 2f out, 5th entering straight, weakened, last of 12, 28l behind Marmooq (8-10) at W'hampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
