steadied start, held up behind, headway well over 2f out, no chance over 1f out, one pace
mid-division, ridden 4f out, soon lost place and beaten
always in rear group, struggling over 2f out, no chance when eased final furlong
held up 4th, led over 7f out to over 2f out, weakened quickly
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, led inside final 2f, gradually drew clear, ridden out, comfortably
held up 5th, one pace final 2f, never troubled leaders
steadied start, held up behind mid-division, headway from 3f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside furlong, no chance with leading pair
soon led, headed over 7f out, stayed prominent, kept on to go 2nd over 2f out, no chance with winner
tracked leader, with new leader from over 7f out, led over 2f out, headed inside final 2f, no extra and weakened quickly final furlong
started slowly, towards rear, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on past beaten rivals, never nearer
held up in rear, ridden and struggling over 2f out, never dangerous
prominent, ridden and lost touch over 5f out, in rear over 4f out, no chance after
CODA AGENCY is our selection in a modest handicap with Champagne Shadow and Astrodome the others of note. Coda Agency has progressed from a low base to take three handicaps over the course of the calendar year. Connections elected to give him a break post his effort at Goodwood and while we have to take match fitness on trust, the decision has at least given David Arbuthnot the chance to freshen up the five-year-old. Champagne Shadow is another to emerge from an absence. A winner here off a mark of 67; he makes obvious appeal now 7lbs lower in the handicap. Astrodome is always likely to create a splash in the market given his connections. Fifth at Beverley over this trip, he did look rather one paced so might not be one to row in upon at short prices. Garrulous is a fair handicap hurdler on his day. David Probert's claim will prove a help. Flame Creek continues to defy his years and is sure to give his all in spite of the onset of father time. Daring Racer does not win very often and will need to reverse form with The Composer. Adage has dropped dramatically down the weights but seems to run his better races at Dunstall Park. The well bred Forget It is stepped up in trip again in a bid to unearth any latent talent. Irish Ballad has hit the frame on both recent starts at Kempton but he was beaten out of sight on a previous visit to this track. Coda Agency appears best of this bunch and is nominated accordingly.
Garrulous (UAE) 6-1 (9-12) Led to over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 10, 11l behind Tuanku (9-7) at Salisbury 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Aug.
Champagne Shadow (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Behind, headway over 1f out, edged left entering final furlong, stayed on one pace, 5th of 13, 4l behind Synonymy (9-5) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Apr.
Flame Creek (IRE) 20-1 (8-4) Took keen hold in rear, struggling over 4f out, tailed off, 10th of 11, 35l behind Go Amwell (7-11) at Goodwood 2m hcap (5) sft in Sept.
Daring Racer (GER) 4-1 (8-13) Chased leader to 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 21l behind Mohawk Star (8-9) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Sept.
Coda Agency 11-2 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 12l behind At The Money (9-7) at Goodwood 2m hcap (5) sft in May.
The Composer 9-1 (8-9) Mid-division, headway over 7f out, ridden over 2f out, edged left from over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 10, 2l behind Pseudonym (9-4) at Bath 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Sept.
Astrodome Evensfav (8-13) Led, headed 4f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Bushy Dell (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Sept.
Forget It 16-1 (8-5) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 13, 10l behind Mount Lavinia (9-4) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Irish Ballad 16-1 (9-2) Prominent, ridden to lead just inside final 2f, headed over 2f out, soon no chance with winner, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Mohawk Star (9-12) at Kempton 2m hcap (6) pol in Sept.
Adage 7-1 (9-4) Mid-division, under pressure over 4f out, from headway over 2f out, never on terms, 6th of 16, 17l behind Miss Serena (9-2) at Great Leighs 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Beckenham's Secret 20-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on, 3rd of 16, 12l behind Moonshine Creek (9-6) at Bath 1m 4f hcp (6) gd in Aug.
Jomelamin 20-1 (8-9) Towards rear, ridden briefly 7f out, headway 5f out, held from over 3f out, 7th of 13, 24l behind Soundbyte (8-7) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Aug.
