held up towards rear, headway on outside over 7f out, soon in touch, driven and lost place over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up behind, headway into mid-division over 5f out, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, chased clear pair over 1f out, never a threat, lost modest 3rd inside final 100 yards
held up behind, headway under pressure over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to take modest 3rd inside final 100 yards, no chance with clear pair
pressed leader to over 6f out, in touch, ridden 2f out, no chance with clear pair when lost 3rd over 1f out, one pace final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, tracked leaders on inside over 3f out, challenged over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on in sustained duel final furlong, led narrowly near finish
mid-division, outpaced 3f out, never on terms, ridden and weakened final furlong
behind, outpaced 3f out, never a threat
chased leaders to over 4f out, soon driven and lost place, ridden over 2f out, weakened and eased over 1f out
tracked leaders on inside, led over 2f out, soon hard pressed, ridden over 1f out, kept on in sustained duel final furlong, headed narrowly near finish
in touch on outside, outpaced 2f out, soon ridden and lost place, no impression from over 1f out
mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, never threatened leaders
never better than mid-division, lost place over 6f out, soon behind, no danger after
prominent on outside, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place, weakened over 1f out
Cristal Spirit is making hard work of opening his account and returned a losing favourite once again when only third over track and trip but finishing in front of Macho Mover. BAASHA (NAP) has yet to win but was having his first start since May having undergone wind surgery during the interim when posting a much better effort here earlier in the month. Ed Dunlop’s charge may well prove good enough today and is preferred to Sky Rocket, who went close at Ffos Las before disappointing over course and distance. Sploosh and Tinsmith go handicapping for the first time and are worth a second glance.
Tinsmith 50-1 (9-5) Disputed lead early, mid-division, pushed along over 6f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 14, 15 1/2l behind Keltie (9-0) at Kempton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct.
Baasha 25-1 (9-7) Steadied start, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 13, 2 3/4l behind Thistimelastyear (9-1) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Houlton 3-1 (9-7) Not much room start, soon prominent, pressed leader after 2f, clear of rest to over 5f out, led over 4f out to over 3f out, weakened final 2f, 6th of 7, 29 1/4l behind Gift of Hera (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in May.
Sky Rocket 4-1 (9-8) Ridden out of stalls and soon led, headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 5l behind Landue (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Hilborough 14-1 (9-4) Mid-division, chased leaders over 2f out, soon driven and one pace, weakening when bumped inside final furlong, 11th of 12, 10 1/2l behind Sempre Presto (9-3) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Cristal Spirit 5-4fav (9-5) In touch in mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Blue Reflection (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Poetic Steps (FR) 22-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 13, 11 3/4l behind Trautmann (9-4) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Y Fyn Duw A Fydd 14-1 (9-4) Led, headed over 10f out, prominent, ridden 3f out, edged left over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Dame Nellie (8-13) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Sploosh (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden and weakened inside final 2f, 6th of 11, 5 1/2l behind Rippling Waters (9-1) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Sep.
Buckland Boy (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, under pressure over 3f out, soon beaten, eased, last of 9, 23 1/2l behind Rhosneigr (9-11) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Macho Mover (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway when not much room over 2f out, stayed on final 100 yards, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Blue Reflection (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Aria Rose 50-1 (9-2) Mid-division on inside, pushed along over 2f out, soon beaten, 9th of 11, 13 1/2l behind Awalii (9-2) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Sep.
Barnay 40-1 (8-11) Always towards rear, outpaced over 2f out, 11th of 12, 12 1/4l behind Sounds Approving (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Becky Sharp 12-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden and not quicken over 1f out, weakened towards finish, 7th of 13, 3l behind Thistimelastyear (9-1) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Oct.