led 2f, with leader, every chance 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
held up in rear, headway 5f out, outpaced final 3f
held up but in touch, pushed along 7f out, weakened over 5f out
tracked leaders, shaken up inside final 3f, led 2f out, ridden and edged right over 1f out, edged left entering final furlong, ran on well, comfortably
took keen hold, held up, struggling halfway, tailed off
led after 2f, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway over 8f out, outpaced over 2f out
in touch, took keen hold, lost ground over 9f out, headway over 5f out, every chance over 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong
FULL OF SPIRIT gets the vote here in the concluding race ahead of Fleetstone and Alfie's Pearl. A ¿60,000 purchase as a three-year-old, the selection is the first foal of a smart mare called Spirit Leader. She herself was a bumper winner before going on to win some competitive handicaps over hurdles and representing a strong yard, the feeling is that if her daughter is half as good as her then she can make a winning start. Alan King loves this bumper so Fleetstone looks an obvious danger. She also makes her debut this afternoon and she is related to plenty of winners, including Trigger The Light. Poppy Come Running was well-backed and in the process of running a big race when running out at Folkestone; it will be interesting to see how she moves in the market today. Queen Octavia has shaped with promise, Shannons Firth is well-related and she wasn't a cheap purchase, whilst Bouncing Bean hasn't been seen since finishing behind an Alan King-trained runner at Southwell in March. The market should be informative in the finale, however without that information we are happy to plump for Full Of Spirit as an apt Christmas winner.
Alfie's Pearl Alflora filly out of Wild Dream.
Bouncing Bean 9-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway over 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 18l behind Chilli Rose (10-6) at Southwell 2m N H flat (5) gd in Mar.
Fleetstone Fleetwood filly out of Lamper's Light.
Full Of Spirit (IRE) Exit To Nowhere filly out of Spirit Leader.
Kirkton Kirkwall filly out of Futona.
Queen Octavia 9-2 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden, outpaced 3f out, kept on same pace final 2f, no impression, 6th of 16, 16l behind Bringewood Belle (10-11) at Hereford 2m 1f mrs NH flat (4-7yo) (6) gs in Nov.
Shannons Firth (IRE) Flemensfirth filly out of Collopy's Girl.
Tiffany Jones Kayf Tara mare out of Juleit Jones.
Boosha Sir Harry Lewis filly out of Musical Vocation.
Forty Knights Sir Harry Lewis filly out of Tinoforty.
Poppy Come Running (IRE) 7-2 (10-5) Held up in touch, pulled hard early, driven to challenge over 2f out, soon led, ducked left and ran out entering final furlong, in a race won by Malindi Bay (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f N H flat (6) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Saltara 50-1 (10-9) Behind, some headway 7f out, no chance final 3f, 5th of 9, 28l behind She's On The Case (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gf in May.
