made virtually all, driven 2 lengths clear over 2f out, ridden and joined when edged right inside final furlong, stayed on gamely towards finish
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, soon driven, ridden to challenge and every chance when carried right inside final furlong, kept on, just held
tracked leaders, driven over 4f out, soon lost touch, tailed off 3f out
dwelt, soon tracked winner, reminder over 3f out, lost place over 2f out, no chance with front pair
LA ESTRELLA is likely to start a short price for this but that was also the case 12 months ago when he was beaten a neck by the Gary Moore-trained Right Stuff. Don Cantillon's prolific Fibresand winner has been successful on the Polytrack but never here and the Moore stable will fancy their chances of upsetting the apple cart again with While You Wait. But we'll stick with the top weight, who is clear on official ratings. James Pollard has only managed one place in 18 starts on the all-weather while stablemate Taste The Wine's record is only marginally better. Bollin Judith won over hurdles in November but has disappointed since and is an unknown quantity on this surface.
La Estrella (USA) 1-25fav (9-10) With leader, led over 4f out, pushed clear over 2f out, soon in command, easily, won at Southwell 1m 4f sell stks (6) fbs beating Loulou Vuitton (8-4) by 4l, 4 ran.
While You Wait (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders, 10th of 13, 8l behind Certavi (9-6) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Tirol Livit (IRE) 3-1 (8-9) Very slowly away, headway to go prominent over 6f out, went 2nd 5f out, one pace over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 9l behind Imperial Amber (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (7) pol in Mar '08.
Bollin Judith 40-1 (9-10) Held up towards rear, always behind, 13th of 14, 31l behind Beacon Lady (8-5) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Aug.
James Pollard (IRE) 20-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to 3rd post, not pace of 1st 2, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Mister Fizz (8-10) at Goodwood 1m 3f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Sep.
Taste The Wine (IRE) 9-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, headway over 4f out, went 2nd over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 7, 17l behind Bohemian Rhapsody (9-13) at Ffos Las 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Aug.
