held up, headway on outer 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed 1f out, lost 2nd close home
never on terms
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, headway 2f out, switched right over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd close home
in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent, led approaching 1f out, ridden out
steadied start keen early in rear, never a factor
in rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, stayed on, not reach leaders
Royal Alcor has got his act together late on in the year and bids for a hat-trick after a couple of wins at Wolverhampton. He's upped in class and is 8lb higher today, however, and will need to show further improvement if he's to land this. Sand Skier keeps finding ways of getting beat and patience has run out with him but Ecossaise, Sircozy and Buxfizz all ran well last time and can be given a chance. BEAT ROUTE won at Kempton last month before finishing a close-up fifth over C&D last week in better company. Mike Attwater's charge gets the nod here racing off the same mark in what looks an open handicap.
Sircozy (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, switched right over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Shades Of Grey (9-6) at Newbury 1m 4f ladies hcap (5) gf in Oct.
Sand Skier 7-4fav (8-11) Raced wide, tracked leading trio, wide on bend 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 5th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Hurricane Spirit (9-4) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Admirable Duque (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Held up, headway 4f out, ridden to chase leading pair 3f out, kept on one pace final 2f, 4th of 12, 12l behind Wild Desert (10-0) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Buxfizz (USA) 50-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, led 3f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Choral Festival (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Beat Route 10-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, soon every chance, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 1 1/4l behind Where's Susie (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
Kiss A Prince 17-2 (9-5) Steadied start, held up in rear, short of room after 1f, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, effort over 2f out, soon one pace, 4th of 9, 6l behind Appeal (8-5) at Lingfield 1m 5f app hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Ecossaise 6-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, under preessure over 3f out, every chance entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 1 3/4l behind Sky Crystal (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Tornado Force (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind So Wise (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Royal Alcor (IRE) 5-2fav (9-7) Slowly into stride, held up in last pair, switched sharply right to outside and rapid headway over 4f out, went 2nd 3f out, led over 2f out, clear when hung left over 1f out, ridden out, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov beating Art Thief (8-13) by 3l, 7 ran.
Kames Park (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, ridden and headway on outside over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 6th of 11, 3l behind Mazij (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
