chased leaders on outside, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
raced wide in mid-division, ridden over 1f out, never a threat
always towards rear
held up towards rear, switched left 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, ran on when in the clear inside final furlong
led until ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, wide on home turn, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, not clear run and switched right 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, led on line
never nearer than mid-division
chased leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon clear, ran on but headed post
mid-division, headway under pressure over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, just held
chased leaders, weakened quickly inside final 2f
in touch, ridden chasing leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, ridden 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
NonRunner
A three-year-old won this last year and the younger generation are well represented again. Oisin Murphy’s mount Entertaining may be the pick of them, ahead of Toro Dorado, but there are some battle-hardened older horses to contend with. Takeonefortheteam has won twice over track and trip this year and is probably still on a fair mark, despite a 5lb rise. A back-to-form Choral Music would be a threat but ROMAN SPINNER (NAP) can’t get much lower in the weights and has probably been running better than recent results would suggest so gets the nod.
I Can (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Took keen hold, held up in rear, not much room over 2f out, soon switched right and closed, never on terms, 5th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Little Palaver (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Danecase 20-1 (9-1) Soon led, headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Highfaluting (9-6) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Entertaining (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, never in contention, 10th of 13, 6 1/4l behind Sea Fox (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Roman Spinner 12-1 (9-11) Switched right start, held up in rear, headway between horses over 1f out, plugging on but no chance when hampered and snatched up inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Dawaaween (9-8) at Kempton 7f hcp fll (5) pol in Oct.
Walkman (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Led, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra close home, 5th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Gavi Di Gavi (8-10) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Sep.
Black Medick 14-1 (9-7) Chased winner 6f out until ridden inside final furlong, weakened soon after, 6th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Rapture (9-8) at Lingfield 7f hcp fll (5) pol in Oct.
Choral Music 8-1 (9-4) Last pair, caught wide on home turn, headway on wide outside over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 8th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Sonnet Rose (8-13) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (5) pol in Sep.
Keeper's Choice (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway after 5th, weakened from 3 out, 9th of 11, dist behind Glory And Fortune (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Crimewave (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 5 1/4l behind Kashagan (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Sep.
Takeonefortheteam 5-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, not clear run from over 2f out, switched left and again not much room over 1f out, soon quickened up well, led inside final furlong, readily, won at Kempton 1m hcp (6) pol in Oct beating Cauthen (9-2) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Island Glen (USA) 14-1 (9-3) Held up, pushed along 3f out, weakened final furlong, 11th of 14, 10 3/4l behind Castle Quarter (8-11) at Newcastle 7f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Kings Royal Hussar (FR) 11-1 (9-5) Held up in rear, driven and headway when carried right over 1f out, ridden and stayed on in 4th inside final furlong, no impression with front trio, 4th of 8, 4l behind Image Of The Moon (9-6) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Aug.
Andaleep (IRE) 66-1 (9-1) Behind, headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 4 1/2l behind State Of Affair (9-7) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Toro Dorado 10-1 (9-4) Held up in mid-division, headway in centre chasing leaders 3f out, ridden and weakened inside final 2f, 9th of 16, 13l behind Hedging (9-4) at Brighton 1m hcp (6) gs in Oct.
