tracked leaders, led going well 2f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, stayed on gamely
held up in touch, going well when not clear run and switched left 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, every chance when hung left and right well inside final furlong, held near finish
held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, no headway
with leader, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway towards inside 2f out, went 3rd over 1f out, stayed on same pace
in touch, driven along over 2f out, hard ridden to take 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with front pair
slowly into stride, soon recovered to chase leaders on inside, weakened 2f out
held up in rear, some headway final furlong
Nonrunner
SET THE TREND is the least exposed of these, but has made a promising start to his career, and can land this ahead of main likely dangers Antinori and Keep Ringing. It's only his third outing, and first at a mile, having won on debut over seven furlongs at Lingfield and followed that up with a decent third on handicap debut. A switch of track looks to be a positive though, with him wanting a decent pace. Antinori has been second in his last couple of outings and makes his handicap debut. He looks to be an improving sort, but it can be hard to win first time out at Kempton. Keep Ringing tries a mile for the first time, after dead-heating for first last time out over nine furlongs. It's a Kempton debut for him too, and a step up in grade. Brooksby and Roar of Applause are the only course and distance winners in the field; both came last time out, but back in November, so may need the run. Brooksby looks the better of Richard Hannon's two runners, the other being Simplification. It's a competitive contest this, but our preference is for the top weight, Set The Trend.
Set The Trend 8-13fav (9-3) Keen, mid-division, ridden and switched right over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Cyflymder (9-0) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Antinori (IRE) 10-3 (9-3) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead narrowly inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 12, nk behind Calaloo (9-3) at Bath 1m 2yo mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Jazacosta (USA) 3-1fav (9-7) Tracked leader, driven to challenge over 1f out, soon one pace, 4th of 10, 5l behind Oasis Knight (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Herschel (IRE) 3-1fav (9-4) Made all, in command over 1f out, ran on well, won at Kempton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov beating Supernoverre (9-7) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Keep Ringing (USA) 9-4 (8-12) Held up, ridden and headway on outside over 2f out, challenging well over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, joined leader post, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Mar deadheating with Lastroarofdtiger (9-3), 5 ran.
Simplification 4-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, every chance final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Kaabari (8-9) at Lingfield 7f mdn fll (5) pol in Mar.
Brooksby 9-2 (9-4) Led after 1f, shaken up, 2f out, drew clear over 1f out, ran on strongly and driven out, won at Kempton 1m 2yo hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov beating Perfect Friend (9-2) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Tidal Force (USA) 16-1 (8-13) Always behind, 11th of 16, 12l behind Swift Chap (9-0) at Sandown 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Aug.
Hip Hip Hooray 5-1fav (9-7) Mid-division, hampered over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 17, 6l behind Embsay Crag (9-3) at Leicester 7f 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) gs in Oct.
Sunny Future (IRE) 66-1 (8-3) In touch stand's side group, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 14th of 21, 16l behind Awinnersgame (8-9) at Doncaster 6f 2yo aut (2) sft in Sep.
Roar of Applause 5-1 (9-7) Held up in touch, headway 2f out, led just inside final furlong, all out, won at Kempton 1m 2yo hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov beating Highland River (9-5) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
