led, headed over 2f out, ridden over 1f out weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
pecked slightly on leaving stalls, chased leaders in 4th, ridden 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and hung left over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, always held
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, soon headed, kept on
in rear, headway over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, soon hung right, kept on well
After two wins at Wolverhampton, New Code faces a tougher task stepping up in class, while Beggar's Opera and Lyric Poet look too high in the weights. Valid Reason and Pittodrie Star both ran out good winners here recently and have to be included in calculations but a chance is taken with FONTERUTOLI. Having his first start for Roger Ingram last month, he was doing all his best work in the closing stages over 1m2f here and can return to winning ways racing over this longer trip for the first time.
Valid Reason 11-4 (9-4) Made all, quickened well over 2f out, soon strongly challenged, hard ridden approaching final furlong, ran on well, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Iron Condor (9-1) by 3l, 3 ran.
Beggar's Opera (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) Held up in touch, ridden and hung left over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 10, 4l behind Mongoose Alert (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Lyric Poet (USA) 6-1 (9-0) Held up in 7th, headway on inside over 2f out, challenged for well held 3rd from inside final 2f, no chance with leading duo, 4th of 8, 5l behind Akinoshirabe (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Pittodrie Star (IRE) 4-1 (8-10) Soon led, headed 8f out, tracked leaders after, ridden 2f out, soon edged left, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating Archie Rice (8-11) by 3l, 9 ran.
Fonterutoli (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) Held up in touch, effort over 1f out, kept on under pressure close home, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Dark Promise (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
New Code 7-2 (9-3) In rear, headway on outer 4f out, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Wolverhampton 2m hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Oct beating Pearl (8-13) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.