slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, never dangerous
soon led, headed over 6f out, stayed handy, led again over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well inside final furlong
chased leaders on outside, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
prominent early, in touch, not much room and lost place on inside over 5f out, headway and switched right 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, held by winner, stayed on
soon handy, driven over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out
led early, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, soon mid-division on inside and pulled hard, switched left over 5f out, headway over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in mid-division, not much room and switched left 2f out, headway over 1f out, never dangerous
outpaced and always towards rear
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, unable to challenge, stayed on
prominent, led over 6f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
pulled hard, soon chasing leaders, hampered, lost place and stumbled over 5f out, well beaten over 2f out
Espresso Freddo won this off a 4lb higher mark last year but the less exposed STATE SECRETARY is preferred. The latter returned a convincing winner at Wolverhampton on last month’s handicap debut and should go close again despite a rise in the weights. Mafia Power has been thereabouts over longer trips while Billy Mill and Chief Of Staff have both placed over 7f recently and the latter has his second start after wind surgery. Knowwhentorun slips further down the weights and Got The Moves debuts for a new yard in a first-time tongue-tie.
Evasive Power (USA) 40-1 (9-0) Held up in mid-division, ridden 2f out, no impression, last of 8, 5 1/4l behind Diocles Of Rome (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Endured (IRE) 9-4fav (9-9) Soon chasing leaders out wide, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 11, 6 3/4l behind Excel Power (9-10) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
State Secretary (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) Prominent, ridden to lead 3f out, clear entering final furlong, kept on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Nov beating Peintre D'etoiles (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Billy Mill 8-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, outpaced over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out, 6th of 12, 5 1/2l behind May Night (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Mafia Power 11-2 (9-13) Tracked leading pair on inside, went between horses into 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no chance with winner, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 12, 5l behind The Nu Form Way (8-9) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Chief Of Staff 10-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, asked for effort and rallied at 2f, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leader, 3rd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Trumble (9-9) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Got The Moves (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Rear of mid-division, pushed along and no impression over 1f out, headway between horses inside final furlong, short of room from 100 yards out, eased, 9th of 18, 3 1/2l behind Dilawara (9-13) at Leopardstown 7f hcp gd in Oct.
Knowwhentorun 7-2 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden inside final 2f, kept on towards finish, not pace to challenge, 4th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Rogue Force (9-5) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
De Vegas Kid (IRE) 14-1 (9-13) Held up, raced wide and made headway at 3f, ridden and outpaced at 2f, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 7 3/4l behind End Zone (9-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Espresso Freddo (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Held up in touch, travelled strongly, closed over 1f out, ridden and went 4th well inside final furlong, held but kept on, 4th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Hover (9-9) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Nov.
McCann The Man 11-1 (9-4) Towards rear, wide and headway 2f out, ridden and no impression final furlong, 6th of 13, 4l behind Marion's Boy (9-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Red Jasper 14-1 (9-4) Chased leader, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out, 9th of 10, 9 1/2l behind Proclaimer (9-9) at Newcastle 1m hcp (5) pol in Nov.