held up towards rear, headway on inside 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, eased when held close home
chased winner, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and lost 2nd inside final 2f, chased leaders, stayed on inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge
wore hood to post, held up in mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong
dwelt and badly hampered start, held up towards rear, good headway between horses over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders and weakened inside final 100 yards
off the pace and always towards rear
keen in mid-division out wide, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong
never travelled in rear, never a factor
held up towards rear, stayed on between horses inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
never closer than mid-division
went left and hampered rival start, chased leaders, pushed along out wide over 2f out, soon weakened quickly and behind
raced keenly, made all, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, unchallenged
chased leaders on inside, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, no chance with winner
ANNIE LAW is still improving and was winning for the third time this year when successful over track and trip with First Company back in fourth. Northcliff’s recent third came on heavy going over the minimum trip at Redcar while The Cola Kid defied a penalty to land a course double a week ago and is penalised once again. King Of Speed finished behind the latter back in June while Top Button is fitted with a tongue-tie for his handicap debut.
Top Button (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Prominent, ridden and every chance from 2f out, stayed on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Royal Jet (9-5) at Leicester 7f stks (5) sft in Oct.
Northcliff (IRE) 6-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind John Kirkup (8-11) at Redcar 5f hcp (5) hvy in Oct.
Annie Law 4-1 (9-10) Soon chasing leader out wide, led over 2f out, ridden and strongly pressed inside final furlong, battled on gamely, all out, won at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Oct beating Revolucion (9-7) by hd, 11 ran.
Awesome Spirit (IRE) 11-4 (9-10) Led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 7l behind Royal Bliss (9-8) at Lingfield 7f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Autumn Angel (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) In touch, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden and no impression final furlong, 8th of 14, 8 1/2l behind Giddy Aunt (8-9) at Bath 6f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
The Cola Kid 3-1fav (9-13) Held up off the pace towards rear, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov beating Purple Poppy (9-3) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Marinakis (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Dwelt start, held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace approaching final furlong, 10th of 11, 14l behind Full Prime (9-9) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Apr.
King Of Speed (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) In rear, ridden 2f out, ran on into 3rd 1f out, no impression thereafter, 3rd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Albert Cee (9-11) at Leicester 6f hcp (5) gs in Sep.
Confederation 5-1 (9-4) Mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Masterclass (9-9) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Amber Dew 25-1 (8-13) Always rear of mid-division,, last of 11, 20l behind Ceanna (9-5) at Southwell 7f hcp fll (4) pol in Jun.
First Company (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Raced keenly tracking leaders, good headway out wide over 1f out, driven along and stayed on strongly inside final furlong, just held, 4th of 11, nk behind Annie Law (9-10) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Papabella 14-1 (10-7) Slowly into stride, towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, not pace to challenge, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Willingly (10-10) at Nottingham 5f hcp (6) hvy in Oct.
