steadied start, held up in touch, ridden to lead over 1f out, hung badly left inside final furlong
pulled hard, held up in last pace, ridden and no impression over 1f out until edged left and ran on inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on same pace
held up in touch, short of room over 3f out, lost place, not a danger after
soon led, ridden 2f out, edged left and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
Celebration Song gets our vote here ahead of Porters and Kaveri. Owned, appropriately enough, by the Kempton Park Punters' Club, Celebration Song can get that enterprise off to a flying start by taking this mile event. Progressive at two - he won two of his last three races at that age - he finished the season looking like a horse that can just keep on getting better. Today offers him a chance to prove that assessment correct although, of course, he lacks all-weather racing experience. Not so with Porters, who scores high when it comes to consistency and he should be knocking at the door once again, or Kaveri, who looked an unlucky loser at Lingfield last time, and whose stable is in good form. Casablanca Minx has graduated from claimers to earn a place in this type of company, although she has not shown enough to suggest that she can win today, while, based on his Wolverhampton win in October, Silver Chariot looks to be on the upgrade but, overall, we prefer others today, principally Celebration Song, who gets the vote.
Porters (USA) 8-11fav (9-5) Always prominent, ridden to lead 2f out, headed and not quicken well inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Reveur (8-7) at W'hampton 7f nov stk (5) pol in Dec.
Celebration Song (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Chester 7f 2yo hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Sept beating Stainley (8-3) by a hd, 7 ran.
Kaveri (USA) 10-1 (9-4) Raced wide towards rear, headway on wide outside 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Seven Samurai (9-1) at Lingfield 7f 2yo hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Casablanca Minx (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Held up, brief effort 3f out, soon beaten, 7th of 8, 5l behind Prince Charlemagne (8-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Silver Chariot 11-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead close home, won at W'hampton 7f 2yo mdn (5) pol in Oct beating Rebellious Spirit (9-0) by a nk, 11 ran.