steadied start, settled in rear, ridden over 2f out, plenty to do, strong run on outside over 1f out, pressed leader inside final furlong, led final strides, finished lame and dismounted after finish
mid-division, ridden and effort over 2f out, not quicken, soon outpaced
raced keenly, tracked leader, ridden and effort over 2f out, weakened quickly from 2f out
behind, ridden over 3f out, struggling over 2f out
steadied start, raced keenly towards rear, hanging right over 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, looked held when short of room near finish
tracked leaders on outside, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong, caught final strides
tracked leaders on inner, ridden to lead 1f out, kept on until headed well inside final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish
This will probably rest between last-time winners Resplendent Nova and HARALD BLUETOOTH and the latter gets the vote. David Simcock's string are in good form and Harald Bluetooth certainly looks open to more improvement than his likely market rival. The Danetime colt has a great strike rate of three wins from five career starts, including when scoring over 9f at Wolverhampton last time. A 7lb rise for that success may ask questions of him but he can provide us with the correct answers. Resplendent Nova was a course and distance scorer last week and is up 5lbs for that. He may well need a career best to follow up, but he does seem to save his best for this track and is entitled to go close. This is Gallantry's optimum trip and he acts well on the Polytrack, so from a mark that he is generally competitive off he can make his presence felt. Totally Focussed is 2lbs better off with Resplendent Nova for a half length defeat last time and is entitled to close that gap, while Jeremy Gask is improving Count Trevisio and a market check is advised where he is concerned. Harald Bluetooth gets the nod.
Harald Bluetooth (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (9-3) Held up in rear, switched left and headway well over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon quickened away, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Randama Bay (8-9) by 3l, 9 ran.
Resplendent Nova 4-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to lead close home, won at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Totally Focussed (8-11) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Count Trevisio (IRE) 25-1 (8-8) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden and effort 2f out, soon every chance, no extra and weakened approaching final furlong, last of 6, 6l behind Aeroplane (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Gallantry 7-2 (8-1) In touch, ridden 2f out, soon chased leader, unable to quicken final furlong, 3rd of 5, 2l behind Aeroplane (8-10) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
The Jostler 25-1 (8-9) In rear, headway on inside over 1f out, not reached leaders, 5th of 9, 2l behind Councellor (8-10) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Dec.
Totally Focussed (IRE) 7-2 (8-11) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, soon hard ridden, headed close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Resplendent Nova (9-0) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Ocean Legend (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Held up, in touch, ridden 2f out, headway to dispute 3rd entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 1 1/2l behind Red Somerset (9-5) at Great Leighs 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Dec.
L'Hirondelle (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, chased leader 2f out, hung right on bend over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 12, 6l behind Bullet Man (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Dec.
