chased leaders, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
held up in touch, led over 1f out, ridden clear, ran on well
tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, soon every chance, weakened close home
dwelt, pulled hard in rear, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, never able to challenge
led until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
with leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
held up, never dangerous
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no chance with winner
The veteran Efistorm carries a penalty for last week's win over 6f at this track but has never scored over today's distance and preference is for CUT AND THRUST. He won over 7f at Kempton last month when beating subsequent hat-trick hero Peace Seeker and Nicole Nordblad's claim negates a 5lb rise in the weights. There's nothing between Kenswick and Gazboolou on their recent running at Kempton when third and fourth respectively, with Polar Auroras probably best of the rest.
Efistorm 4-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, effort well over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Lingfield 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec beating Speak The Truth (8-13) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Cut And Thrust (IRE) 9-2fav (9-2) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on to lead final strides, won at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec beating Peace Seeker (8-13) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Polar Auroras 5-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway on inside well over 2f out, soon hung left and close up, stayed on under pressure, 3rd and held towards finish, 3rd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Zaheeb (8-12) at Kempton 7f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Dec.
Pytheas (USA) 25-1 (8-5) Pressed leader until ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 13th of 14, 13l behind Forks (9-0) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
C'Mon You Irons (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 7, 8l behind Mambo Spirit (9-6) at Kempton 6f sell stks (6) pol in Dec.
Gazboolou 8-1 (9-3) Led for about 1f, tracked leaders, pushed along and one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 2 3/4l behind Hierarch (9-0) at Kempton 1m app hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Dec.
Kenswick 20-1 (8-7) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Hierarch (9-0) at Kempton 1m app hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Dec.
My Jeanie (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along and faded over 1f out, 7th of 14, 15l behind Storm Runner (8-7) at Kempton 1m app hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Nov.