always in rear, never a factor
took keen hold, held up in touch, headway on outside under pressure into 3rd 2f out, stayed on to lead final 75 yards
took keen hold tracking leader, led narrowly over 4f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, kept on well until headed and no extra final 75 yards
soon led, narrowly headed over 4f out, pressed leader, ridden 2f out, rallied and every chance inside final furlong, no extra final 75 yards
held up in last trio, some progress on inside 2f out, never reached leaders and weakened final furlong
quickly away, steadied tracking leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong
steadied start, held up in last pair, stayed on inside final furlong, no threat
took keen hold tracking leading pair until 2f out, ridden in 4th and one pace inside final furlong
None of these can be easily written off so only a tentative vote goes the way of BRIGLIADORO. He was caught in the shadow of the post by the progressive Don't Be over track and trip last time and is just preferred to History Book. The latter attempted to make all over a mile at Lingfield on her latest start and went close to succeeding while Stonefield Flyer ran well over 6f last month and scored over course and distance earlier off a 3lb lower mark. Rouge Nuage and Eastern Dragon have won lower grade races recently but Democretes drops in class and is preferred. Marjong and Pactolus are not out of this either off their current marks.
Democretes 10-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 8th of 11, 5l behind Related (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Dec.
Brigliadoro (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on and headed post, 2nd of 13, shd behind Don't Be (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Dec.
History Book (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Led, hard driven when quickened over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Semaral (9-3) at Lingfield 1m fll hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Stonefield Flyer 11-2 (8-9) Prominent, led over 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Secondo (9-4) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-95 (3) in Dec.
Eastern Dragon (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) Soon held up in rear, headway near side over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, well held 2nd inside final furlong, dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Eurystheus (8-10) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.
Rouge Nuage (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, effort on outside over 1f out, led and edged left inside final furlong, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) in Dec beating Queen Aggie (8-11) by 1l, 9 ran.
Marjong 5-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, not clear run well over 1f out, soon went 3rd, stayed on, no impression on winner, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Interception (9-7) at Lingfield 6f fll hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Pactolus (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) In touch, ridden and not clear run from over 1f out, ran on towards finish, not reach leaders, 4th of 13, 1l behind Aqua Ardens (9-10) at Epsom Downs 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sep.
