prominent, led after 1f, ridden over 2f out, soon headed, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 3f out, headway over 1f out, never dangerous
soon led, headed after 1f, tracked leader, led again 2f out, headed and edged left 1f out, stayed on
mid-division, headway on inside over 2f out, soon switched right, led 1f out, stayed on well
soon held up, in touch, on outside, closed to press for 2nd after 6f, driven over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, ridden on outside over 3f out, soon beaten
held up, headway and switched right 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
held up, towards rear, hanging right and well beaten over 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, 3rd over 1f out, edged right, stayed on same pace
half reared as stalls opened and slowly away, behind, never figured
tracked leaders, lost a few places after 4f, outpaced over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression
Oriental Fox got back to winning ways at Pontefract last month but is an out-and-out stayer who was earlier well behind the luckless First Mohican in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket. Alan King's charge deserves to pick up a nice prize may find at least one too good again here as Wrangler was doing his best work at the finish when third over 1m4f at Doncaster and Winning Story still has time on his side. HIGHER POWER was only caught in the shadows of the post over a slightly shorter trip at Doncaster last time. The winner went close off a higher mark in the November Handicap subsequently and James Fanshawe's gelding looks the one to be on here. Gavlar wasn't disgraced in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle in June but hasn't raced since and Steve Rogers has become disappointing.
Oriental Fox (GER) 11-2 (9-2) Led 1f, tracked leader, led again 8f out, pushed along 2f out, ridden out final furlong, won at Pontefract 2m 2f stks (3) sft in Oct beating Burmese (9-2) by 3l, 7 ran.
First Mohican 50-1 (9-5) Held up and behind, steady headway on inside over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, switched right over 2f out, went 2nd 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 33, 3l behind Sweet Selection (8-8) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Barye 16-1 (9-5) Held up, towards rear, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, never on terms, 4th of 6, 6 3/4l behind Arab Spring (9-5) at Kempton 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) pol in Sep.
Steve Rogers (IRE) 7-2jfav (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 15 1/4l behind Intense Tango (8-12) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Higher Power 7-2fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, headway over 3f out, soon led, ridden over 1f out, hard pressed final 100 yards, headed narrowly towards finish, 2nd of 13, nk behind Cape Cova (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Gavlar 16-1 (8-13) Behind, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on into mid-division final furlong, never nearer, 9th of 20, 6 1/4l behind Antiquarium (9-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) pol in Jun.
The Twisler 40-1 (10-0) Behind, outpaced 4f out, never able to challenge, 10th of 13, 29 3/4l behind Cape Cova (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Wrangler 20-1 (9-0) Held up, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on to go 3rd near finish, not reach leaders, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind To Be Wild (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Buonarroti (IRE) 25-1 (8-2) Dwelt in rear, short lived effort 2f out, 14th of 15, 15 3/4l behind Prize Money (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Nov.
Winning Story 9-4jfav (8-10) Went slightly right, stumbled and unseated rider start, at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Albahar (FR) 25-1 (9-12) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, under pressure over 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 9, 12 1/4l behind Star Rider (10-0) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Percy Veer 9-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, effort over 3f out, no impression, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Star Rider (10-0) at Newmarket 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
