held up in rear, driven and headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer
soon close up on outside, outpaced over 2f out, weakened final furlong
led, driven and headed 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
tracked leaders, driven and outpaced 2f out, soon lost place, weakened final furlong
dwelt, behind, outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous
mid-division, headway over 2f out, led 1f out, driven and kept on final furlong
held up behind, switched outside 2f out, driven and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong to go 3rd near finish, not reach leaders
dwelt, soon mid-division on inside, headway 2f out, driven to challenge and every chance over 1f out, kept on
raced keenly, tracked leader, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened
A tough enough race to call for punters here with Support Fund, Diamond Surprise and Rock Anthem short list material but the vote goes to DINNER DATE. The Tom Keddy-trained selection is on the same mark as when not beaten far over course and distance last time out, and he absolutely loves this place, with six of his seven career wins coming at the track. He has a decent draw and although he does need a career best to win on the figures, he has more ticks in the right boxes than most and we will side with him. Support Fund goes very well on turf over both this trip and 7f, and she races from a competitive mark, though one placing in the frame from five starts on artificial surfaces does not augur well. Rock Anthem is another in need of a career best to win this, and that coupled with some dismal orevious efforts on this particular track put us off a wager. Diamond Surprise has not yet been tried here, but given a clear preference for Southwell or softer ground on turf, plus stamina doubts, we will oppose for today. Focail Eile needs a favour from the assessor, and Dinner Date is the one for us.
Rock Anthem (IRE) 10-1 (8-4) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Mabait (9-1) at Leicester 1m 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Oct.
Focail Eile 4-1 (9-4) Towards rear, never dangerous, last of 13, 39l behind Ninth House (8-8) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Sep.
Decameron (USA) 28-1 (9-9) Led, pushed along 3f out, strongly pressed 2f out, headed well over 1f out, no chance with winner, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 7l behind Tanfidh (9-4) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Grey Boy (GER) 11-1 (8-1) Chased leaders, hung left over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Truly Asia (9-5) at Bath 1m app hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Silver Hotspur 20-1 (9-0) Keen, mainly in rear, 9th of 12, 8l behind Millfield (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Dinner Date 14-1 (8-11) Dwelt, held up in touch, smooth headway over 2f out, chased winner well over 1f out, no impression, lost 2nd well inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Beauchamp Viceroy (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Support Fund (IRE) 13-2 (9-7) Held up well in rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway and centre over 2f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, went 2nd, not pace of winner near finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Truly Asia (9-5) at Bath 1m app hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Daniel Thomas (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Held up in mid-division, driven along on outside inside final 2f, no progress over 1f out, 7th of 12, 5l behind Burma Rock (9-6) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Diamond Surprise 28-1 (9-3) Held up, never dangerous, 11th of 12, 6l behind Perfect Act (9-4) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct.
