held up, headway over 2f out, edged right entering final furlong, ridden to challenge winner when carried left inside final furlong, hampered and lost 2nd close home
led, headed 5f out, tracked leader, ridden to lead again 1f out, edged left throughout final furlong, stayed on
close up, lost place over 4f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd close home
took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace
raced wide, keen held up, headway to track leaders over 4f out, ridden and weakened 2f out
with leader, led 5f out, ridden edged right and headed 1f out, kept on one pace
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on, one pace final furlong
held up, never near leaders
slowly away, pulled hard in rear, never a factor
MARKSBURY has been put up 3lb for her narrow win in a similar contest over 7f here last month but she appears to be on the upgrade and could easily double up. Sir Ike bounced right back to form over C&D last time, though his tendency to start slowly would be a worry from an inside draw while Bizarrely has bits of form in maiden company that entitle him to respect. Eastern Gift won off a much higher mark on turf in the summer, however, so is probably the principal danger if Julie Burke can weave her way through the pack from stall one.
Eastern Gift 20-1 (9-1) Towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden and stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Final Drive (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Mountrath 33-1 (9-2) Led and wide on 1st turn, ridden and joined 2f out, soon headed, weakened soon after, 13th of 14, 9l behind Ermyn Express (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Marksbury 10-1 (9-3) Raced in rear, driven halfway, headway on wide outside well over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, ran on strongly inside final furlong, led post, won at Lingfield 7f app hcp 0-58 (6) pol in Nov beating Ymir (8-9) by shd, 13 ran.
Bizarrely (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Raced keenly, tracked leaders on outside, headway to challenge over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, ridden and no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Loyalty (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
First Service (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) In rear, short lived effort over 1f out, 12th of 13, 11l behind Leelu (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Teen Ager (FR) 33-1 (8-13) In touch, weakened 2f out, 10th of 13, 10l behind Leelu (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Sir Ike (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, towards rear, headway on outer over 1f out, led inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov beating Fly By Nelly (9-0) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Yakama (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Started slowly, held up in rear, ridden and struggling over 2f out, 7th of 10, 19l behind Collect Art (9-2) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Jun.
Tasza (USA) 7-1 (10-7) Soon in rear and pushed along, 12th of 13, 22l behind Ubenkor (10-4) at Southwell 1m am hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Nov.
Athboy Auction 16-1 (8-11) Held up, ridden and weakened 2f out, 6th of 10, 18l behind Destiny Blue (9-2) at Yarmouth 1m hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Sep.
