towards rear, hung right and wide on bend into straight, driven over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, unable to reach leaders
held up in rear, effort on inside over 1f out, never reached leaders and weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders on outer, chased winner halfway, hard ridden final furlong, one pace and lost 2nd close home
mid-division, pushed along halfway, strong run inside final furlong, fiished well to 2nd close home, unable to reach winner
mid-division on inside, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten and in rear
chased leaders on inside, ridden 2f out, one pace and no impression inside final furlong
chased winner until halfway, stayed close up under pressure until one pace and no impression inside final furlong
quickly away, made all, driven over 1f out, held on towards finish
in touch, ridden and unable to quicken over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
started very slowly, behind, some headway on outside halfway, struggling entering final 2f
mid-division on outside, headway halfway, chased leaders 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong
Nubar Boy had stablemate Norville and Dancing Welcome behind when scoring over C&D last time and that trio look closely matched here. The consistent Rio Royale has place claims once again while Cheery Cat had three of today's rivals behind when fourth here on his latest start including WHITE SHIFT. The latter's second at Kempton back in November is one of the best pieces of form on offer, however, and she may be worth a bet at a big price in a difficult race for punters to unravel.
Athaakeel (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Dwelt, early reminder and soon outpaced in rear, switched right and headway over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong to lead final 100 yards, going away towards finish, won at Lingfield 6f sell stks (6) pol in Dec beating Waterloo Dock (9-6) by 3l, 8 ran.
Wanchai Whisper 2-1fav (8-10) Held up, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 8, shd behind Brandywell Boy (9-4) at Lingfield 5f sell stks (6) pol in Dec.
Norville (IRE) 15-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, led entering final furlong, soon headed, no extra close home, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Nubar Boy (9-2) at Lingfield 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Nubar Boy 9-1 (9-2) Steadied in rear, headway well over 1f out, ran on to lead last strides, won at Lingfield 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec beating Speak The Truth (8-11) by hd, 11 ran.
Dancing Welcome 9-2 (9-4) Mid-division, headway well over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 1l behind Nubar Boy (9-2) at Lingfield 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
White Shift (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, soon no impression, 9th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Loyal Royal (8-13) at Lingfield 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
South African Gold (USA) 4-1fav (9-4) Tracked leader, effort well over 1f out, soon hung left, not run on, 6th of 12, 3l behind Loyal Royal (8-13) at Lingfield 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Cheery Cat (USA) 8-1 (8-11) Led, driven and headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Loyal Royal (8-13) at Lingfield 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Rio Royale (IRE) 11-4fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, hard ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on under pressure, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Dancing Welcome (8-13) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Monte Major (IRE) 28-1 (9-5) Towards rear, ridden halfway, kept on, not troubled leaders, 6th of 11, 6l behind Residency (8-8) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec.
Valentino Swing (IRE) 40-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, last of 12, 11l behind Lisahane Bog (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
West Leake (IRE) 16-1 (8-9) Pulled hard in rear, headway approaching final furlong, ran on, never nearer, 5th of 12, 2l behind Loyal Royal (8-13) at Lingfield 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
