raced wide close up, ridden over 1f out, kept on to go 3rd close home
slow into stride, in rear, pushed along over 1f out, late headway inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, one pace and lost 3rd close home
in touch, ridden over 1f out, not trouble leaders
soon led, pushed along 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, stayed on
raced wide tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
in touch, pushed along over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
slow into stride, in rear, pushed along over 1f out, never a factor
in touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out
A lead horse for Baaeed at the Haggas yard, MONTATHAM was having his first start on the track for a year when finishing behind third-placed Tacarib Bay in the Balmoral at Ascot. He’s won off higher marks in the past and gets the vote to reverse running with the latter. Hafeet Alain disappointed at Wolverhampton having earlier won a decent handicap over track and trip while What's The Story finished in front of both Excel Power and United Front when fifth at Southwell and is preferred of the rest.
Tacarib Bay 16-1 (9-4) Front rank, shaken up waiting for room over 2f out, ran on when in clear inside final furlong, no match for first two, 3rd of 20, 3l behind Shelir (9-5) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Montatham 18-1 (9-5) Mid-division, shaken up waiting for room 2f out, ridden and headway from over 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, soon headed, no extra final 110yds, 6th of 20, 4 1/4l behind Shelir (9-5) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
United Front (USA) 16-1 (9-11) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders out wide over 2f out, carried right over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 3 3/4l behind Chichester (9-3) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Hafeet Alain (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never on terms, 9th of 12, 9 1/2l behind Notre Belle Bete (8-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
What's The Story 11-2 (9-5) Led until over 5f out, driven 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Billyb (8-6) at Southwell 1m hcp (2) pol in Oct.
Excel Power (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, outpaced and no impression from over 1f out, 6th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Billyb (8-6) at Southwell 1m hcp (2) pol in Oct.
Isola Rossa 66-1 (9-2) Mid-division on inside, pushed along 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 7th of 12, 6 3/4l behind Queen Aminatu (8-13) at Lingfield 1m lst fll stks (1) pol in Oct.
Keyser Soze (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, off the pace and always towards rear, 12th of 14, 10 3/4l behind Croupier (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Young Fire (FR) 3-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Baradar (9-6) at Doncaster 7f hcp (2) hvy in Nov.