always towards rear, never on terms
started slowly, behind, headway on inside over 1f out, never going pace to get involved
chased leaders, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out, no danger after, plugged on
chased leaders, switched right inside final 2f, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, headway over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish and closed, just failed
held up towards rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge
slight lead but pressed, headed 2f out, chased leader under pressure and every chance 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong
towards rear, pushed along halfway, some late moderate headway, never threatened
Nonrunner
Shypen failed in her hat-trick bid at Chelmsford and may now be in the handicapper's grip but He's My Cracker, who won on the Turf course here in June, is running well enough to play a part. Gorokai has won two of his six starts on this surface so warrants respect but the less-exposed Parkour and ALKHOR also make some appeal. Richard Hannon's gelding caught the eye over 5f on his reappearance at Chelmsford last month and it's worth risking that he'll last home given he could be well treated. Baddilini usually goes well here and looks the pick of the older horses.
Lady Clair (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Mid-division, under pressure over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Dark Defender (9-1) at York 6f hcp stks (3) gs in Sep.
Baddilini 14-1 (8-12) Mid-division, driven over 2f out, headway when not much room inside final furlong, no impression, 6th of 15, 3 3/4l behind George William (8-12) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Fleckerl (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, held up, in last pair, never involved, 9th of 12, 7 1/4l behind Menai (9-3) at Windsor 6f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Shypen 7-2fav (9-11) Took keen hold, held up, headway on outside over 5f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Baby Ballerina (8-10) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp fll (5) pol in Oct.
He's My Cracker 8-1 (9-6) Led, ridden and headed entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 3 1/4l behind King of Naples (9-3) at Doncaster 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Parkour (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, last of 6, 13 1/4l behind Ice Age (8-13) at Windsor 6f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Salvatore Fury (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Upstaging (9-5) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Duke Cosimo 9-2 (9-7) Behind, driven and headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 4 1/4l behind Spanish City (9-2) at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Pearl Spectre (USA) 20-1 (9-3) Close up, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 10th of 11, 12 1/4l behind Firmdecisions (9-6) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Alkhor 20-1 (9-2) In rear, pushed along halfway, never near leaders, 7th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Silvanus (9-4) at Chelmsford City 5f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Gorokai (IRE) 3-1 (9-1) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 5 1/4l behind Symposium (9-2) at Goodwood 6f hcp stks (4) gs in Sep.
Bertie Blu Boy 7-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 13th of 16, 10 1/2l behind Diamond Vine (8-11) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) gd in May.
