slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, ridden out
went left start, tracked leader, effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, lost place over 2f out
hampered start, held up, never dangerous
in touch, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, never on terms
broke well, soon steadied towards rear, headway over 1f out, never troubled leaders
mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace
always prominent, driven to challenge over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong
Busby arrives in fine form having landed a double with last month’s course and distance success. But he’s upped a couple of grades for this while Excellent George is also holding his form well though his best recent efforts have been over the minimum trip. ZAIN HANA (NAP) continues to improve and, despite being 9lb higher than when scoring at Nottingham earlier, Jeremy Noseda’s filly went close again over track and trip last time, finishing in front of both Helvetian and Watchable in the process. She gets the vote to make another bold bid.
Eljaddaaf (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Chased leaders over 4f, 11th of 16, 9 1/4l behind Bernardo O'Reilly (9-3) at Newbury 6f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Merlin 9-1 (9-4) Led over 2f, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened 1f out, 8th of 11, 7 1/2l behind Royal Brave (8-12) at Ripon 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Helvetian 12-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, effort over 1f out, never troubled leaders, 5th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Polybius (9-7) at Kempton 6f hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Zain Hana 3-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Polybius (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Watchable 20-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, stayed on same pace final 100 yards, 6th of 18, 3 1/2l behind Copper Knight (9-5) at York 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Excellent George 5-2fav (9-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Verne Castle (9-10) at Chelmsford City 5f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Documenting 10-1 (8-12) Prominent, ridden and every chance 2f out, soon weakened and eased, 13th of 14, 8l behind Ice Lord (9-1) at Doncaster 6f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Chookie Dunedin 14-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, outpaced well over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind T For Tango (8-10) at Ayr 6f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Busby (IRE) 3-1fav (9-6) Raced keenly, with leader, led over 2f out, soon hard pressed, ridden over 1f out, kept on well towards finish, won at Kempton 6f hcp (5) pol in Oct beating A Sure Welcome (9-4) by 3/4l, 11 ran.