mid-division, pushed along when not much room entering final furlong, eased
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
in touch, effort over 1f out, weakening when hampered inside final furlong
towards rear, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on strongly
in touch, effort when not much room entering final furlong, stayed on well towards finish
led, headed inside final furlong, faded
tracked leaders, effort when not clear run just inside final furlong, no extra
held up in rear, headway halfway and in touch, one pace final furlong
mid-division, headway and effort over 1f out, weakened towards finish
towards rear, clipped heals 2f out, not recover
held up towards rear, headway on inside over 1f out, stayed on strongly to go 2nd towards finish
This looks wide-open though the Hannon yard has won four of the last eight renewals and Great Page landed a Group 3 at Deauville last year. William Haggas won this in 2014 with Ertijaal, who went on to win at the All-Weather Championships, and Tutu Nguru finished ahead of Squash when fourth in the Oh So Sharp at Newmarket in October. ADVENTUROUS also returns to action and a repeat of his third to Sanus Per Aquam at Headquarters in September would see him go very close. A below par Haalick finished behind the selection on his latest start while Race Day ended last year with a hat-trick of course wins and narrowly beat Abe Lincoln over track and trip in November. Above N Beyond placed in Listed company last term but the remainder have even more to find on these terms.
Abe Lincoln (USA) 7-2 (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, outpaced and wide into straight, ridden over 1f out, headway inside final furlong, chased front pair and finished well final 100 yards, held near finish, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Race Day (9-6) at Lingfield 7f stks (2) pol in Nov.
Above N Beyond (9-2) 3rd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Perkunas (9-2) at Doha 7f stks gd in Dec.
Adventurous (IRE) 66-1 (9-1) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 7l behind Air Force Blue (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Haalick (IRE) 13-2 (9-0) Close up in rear, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 6, 7l behind Sanus Per Aquam (9-0) at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Sep.
Jaadu (FR) 4-1 (9-5) Took keen hold tracking leaders, stayed on strongly to challenge inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 5, shd behind Dream Mover (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Race Day (IRE) 5-1 (9-6) Made all, ridden clear inside final 2f, stayed on when pressed inside final furlong, held on well, won at Lingfield 7f stks (2) pol in Nov beating Special Season (9-3) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Sea of Flames 7-4fav (8-10) Made all, ridden over 1f out, drew clear inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 7f hcp (3) pol in Feb beating Take The Helm (9-7) by 4l, 6 ran.
Take The Helm 2-1 (9-7) Tracked winner, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on and no impression inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Sea of Flames (8-10) at Lingfield 7f hcp (3) pol in Feb.
Great Page (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden 2f out, no impression, 5th of 7, 6 1/4l behind Promising Run (9-0) at Newmarket 7f Grp 2 fll stks (1) gd in Sep.
Squash 10-1 (9-0) Raced centre until merged with far side after 2f, in touch, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, hd behind Only Mine (9-0) at Newmarket 6f lst fll stks (1) sft in Oct.
Tutu Nguru (USA) 8-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 2 3/4l behind First Victory (9-0) at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) gs in Oct.
