keen, close up, ridden and lost places 2f out, stayed on towards finish
pressed winner until ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
dwelt, towards rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, ran on, not reach leaders
raced wide, keen, in touch, headway halfway, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
dwelt and went left start, towards rear, pushed along halfway, never a factor
made all, ridden over 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, ran on
in touch, headway between horses over 1f out, ridden to chase winner entering final furlong, ran on
rider removed hood late and slowly away, always in rear
raced wide, keen, in touch, ridden and no impression from 2f out
Consulting steps up a grade off a higher mark after scoring at Newcastle but STEELRIVER finished closer when dropped down to this level last time. Back over 6f today, he may finally put an end to a long losing run. Dutch Golden Age won at Chelmsford in October but remains 7lb higher though he finished ahead of September Issue when fourth on his latest start while Florencio is not out of this off his current mark. Mullionheir failed to figure in any of his four starts last year but drops in class for this.
Mullionheir 50-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, 11th of 12, 8 1/4l behind Justice Good (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Illegally Blonde (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Held up, effort on inside over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 12, 11 1/2l behind Oriental Relation (8-12) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Florencio 5-1 (9-7) Missed break, held up, some headway and edged left over 1f out, never involved, 6th of 10, 4 1/4l behind El Viento (9-1) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Steelriver (IRE) 5-1jfav (9-5) Held up off the pace in last pair, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Outrage (9-9) at Kempton 5f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Consulting 9-2 (9-7) Always prominent, led over 2f out, hard ridden inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Newcastle 6f hcp (5) pol in Dec beating My Dad Syd (9-6) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Fleckerl (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Slowly away, behind, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 5 3/4l behind Oriental Relation (8-12) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Dutch Golden Age (IRE) 3-1fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 3 3/4l behind Captain Dion (9-6) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
September Issue 25-1 (9-5) Went right start, always in rear, 12th of 14, 8 3/4l behind Captain Dion (9-6) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Masamah (IRE) 13-2 (8-12) Started slowly, outpaced and always in rear, last of 10, 9 3/4l behind Outrage (9-9) at Kempton 5f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Oeil De Tigre (FR) 13-8fav (8-4) Slowly into stride, towards rear, short-lived effort over 2f out, 9th of 12, 10 1/2l behind Vroom (8-7) at Southwell 6f stks (6) pol in Dec.