raced wide close up, smooth headway to lead inside final furlong, ran on
raced wide held up, ridden 2f out, no impression
slowly away, always in rear
went left start, held up, ridden over 1f out, ran on towards finish
tracked leader, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
tracked leaders, not clear run entering final furlong, switched right inside final furlong, never able to challenge
held up, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on to go 2nd towards finish, no threat to winner
soon led, ridden over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
awkwardly away towards rear, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakening when hampered inside final furlong
close up, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
This looks wide-open but BALLESTEROS won a claimer at Windsor last month and can race off a much lower mark back on the all-weather today with an apprentice taking a further 5lb off his back. Sword Exceed remains 6lb higher than an earlier win over track and trip while Contentment and Kingsley Klarion have both won over longer distances this year. Geoff Potts finished well ahead of stablemate Ballymore Castle when fourth at Cattericlk while Cosmic Chatter was beaten less than a length at Newcastle a week ago having slid down the weights.
Sword Exceed (GER) 14-1 (9-4) Towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Hart Stopper (9-2) at Haydock 6f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Contentment 4-1 (9-4) In touch on outside, effort when carried right over 2f out, soon switched right to challenge, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 12 3/4l behind Set In Stone (9-12) at Musselburgh 1m hcp fll (4) sft in Sep.
Kingsley Klarion (IRE) 50-1 (9-5) Raced wide held up, ridden over 2f out, never a factor, 12th of 13, 24 1/2l behind Musical Terms (9-3) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Ballymore Castle (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Lady Of The Lamp (8-9) at Newcastle 6f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Geoff Potts (IRE) 3-1 (9-2) Close up, ridden over 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Short Work (9-7) at Catterick 6f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Deeds Not Words (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Outpaced behind, 6th of 9, 11l behind Diagnostic (9-13) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Pretty Bubbles 25-1 (9-4) Keen early, close up, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 6 1/2l behind Diagnostic (9-5) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp fll (5) pol in Oct.
Love Oasis 10-3 (9-2) Led early, tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Bahamian Heights (9-1) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Cosmic Chatter 14-1 (8-13) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Lady Of The Lamp (8-9) at Newcastle 6f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Ballesteros 10-11fav (8-9) Chased leaders, smooth headway in centre over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Windsor 6f stks (5) sft in Oct beating The Big Lad (8-11) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Miss Icon 25-1 (9-5) Towards rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, hung right and weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Tuscany (9-5) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Oct.