held up towards rear, headway on outside 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway on inside when not much room over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, soon ridden, one pace inside final furlong
steadied start, in rear, outpaced over 3f out, well beaten final 2f
prominent, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
took keen hold, prominent, steadied slightly 5f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, took keen hold, switched left over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out
held up in touch in mid-division, ridden over 2f out, never threatened
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, led again over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no impression on winner towards finish
held up rear of mid-division on outside, closed over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, eased
This looks a contest likely to produce plenty of future winners. Royal Rhyme has only run twice so far and Signcastle City was third in a Listed race back in August. The filly CONSERVATIONIST, a course and distance winner in September, started favourite for the Montrose Stakes at Newmarket on her final start last season so may prove better than a handicapper this year but Acotango’s best run to date came on Polytrack and Animate has only won on Tapeta. Racingbreaks Ryder is upped in grade after scrambling home at Nottingham but Deceiver looks nicely treated on his handicap debut.
Coco Jack (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Wore hood to post, held up towards rear, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out, headway out wide over 1f out, never going pace to get involved, 6th of 10, 5l behind Bold Act (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m stks (2) pol in Apr.
Signcastle City (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Raced keenly, chased winner, lost 2nd inside final 2f, soon hung right and weakened, 5th of 6, 14 1/4l behind Urban Sprawl (8-9) at Ascot 7f (2) gs in Sep.
Pol Roger (IRE) 17-2 (9-2) Towards rear, pushed along halfway, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 12 1/2l behind Finn's Charm (9-7) at Musselburgh 1m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Royal Rhyme (IRE) 9-2 (9-6) Close 3rd on inside, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 5, 5 1/4l behind Slipofthepen (9-6) at Kempton 1m stks (2) pol in Apr.
Animate (IRE) 6-4fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, switched right and ridden over 1f out, headway to challenge 1f out, no extra final 100yds, lost third final strides, 4th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Metal Merchant (8-12) at Ayr 1m (3) gd in Sep.
Racingbreaks Ryder (IRE) 3-1fav (9-3) Held up in mid-division on outer, smooth headway and went third over 2f out, shaken up to lead narrowly over 1f out, faced sustained challenge inside final furlong, just held on, won at Nottingham 1m hcp (4) sft in Apr beating Supreme King (9-3) by shd, 9 ran.
Conservationist 10-3 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Caernarfon (9-2) at Newmarket 1m lst fll stks (1) sft in Oct.
Acotango (IRE) 2-1fav (9-6) Prominent, led well over 1f out, pressed final furlong, holding 2nd towards finish, won at Kempton 1m (4) pol in Sep beating Gulmarg (9-9) by nk, 7 ran.
Deceiver 3-1 (9-4) Awkwardly away, mid-division, good headway on inside over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Kempton 7f stks (5) pol in Mar beating Cue's Beau (8-11) by 1l, 14 ran.
