raced wide, keen, held up in touch, headway approaching 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, idled, just held on
tracked leader, ridden to lead 2f out, headed 1f out, rallied towards finish
always in rear
held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden, ran on final furlong, not reached leaders
pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
raced keen, mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
pulled hard, led 7f out, ridden, headed 2f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
held up in rear, never dangerous
slowly into stride, pulled hard, held up, headway on inside from 3f out, switched right over 1f out, ridden, ran on towards finish
led 1f, tracked leaders after, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
Councellor is in great form but a double penalty for back-to-back wins makes his hat-trick bid an unenviable task, so we will chance Monkey Glas, while giving due respect to recent winners Gazboolou and Meditation. The selection is 9lb better off with Councellor for a one-and-a-half length defeat last time out. Karl Burle has his yard in great nick and although the gelding has never won off a mark as high as this he should give a very good account. Councellor can clearly make an impace once again but those extra pounds will probably make a difference, and Meditation comes in calculations after sticking on gamely to win over c&d last time. However, both she and Kempton claimer scorer Gazboolou will have their work cut out. Gaelic Princess is not out of it either, but Monkey Glas is a sporting bet.
Atlantic Story (USA) 15-2 (9-4) Mid-division on inside, switched left 2f out, soon ridden and hung right and ridden on same pace, 4th of 14, 6l behind Blackat Blackitten (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sept.
Basra (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Led 2f, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 2f out, 8th of 13, 7l behind Evident Pride (9-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Steely Dan 33-1 (9-0) Always towards rear, 13th of 14, 5l behind Golden Desert (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Gaelic Princess 14-1 (9-1) Behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong, gaining towards finish, 4th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Waterline Twenty (8-8) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
Trans Sonic 28-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, led 7f out, headed over 2f out, one pace, 8th of 16, 6l behind Teodora Adivina (9-0) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Oct.
Sri Pekan Two 7-2 (9-1) Soon tracking leaders, lame 5f out and pulled up in race won by dhtrs Emerald Wilderness (8-13) & Guiseppe Verdi (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Apr, 6 ran.
Monkey Glas (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Keen, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Councellor (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Princess Taylor 5-1 (8-8) With leader, every chance 1f out, no extra close home, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Bussel (8-0) at Lingfield 1m fll hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Gazboolou 12-1 (9-7) Prominent, went 2nd 3f out, led over 2f out, strongly pressed throughout final furlong, held on, all out, won at Kempton 1m clm (6) pol in Oct beating Forbidden (8-8) by a shd, 11 ran.
Smokin Joe 8-1 (9-0) Towards rear, plenty to do 2f out, ran on well final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 13, 7l behind Den's Gift (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Meditation 9-1 (8-10) Made all, ridden over 1f out, held on well under pressure, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov beating Run For Ede's (8-9) by a shd, 8 ran.
Councellor (FR) 9-2 (9-6) Made all, ridden out, won at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov beating Rainbow Mirage (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
