held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to press winner near finish
dwelt, soon tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong
soon led, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
always last
tracked leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ridden out
keen in touch, ridden 2f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong
Azarole is clear by some way on official BHB ratings but the ex-James Fanshawe-trained gelding is having his first outing for new connections today and may be best watched so preference is for Hail The Chief, who is preferred to the progressive Three Wrens. The selection is back in the care of Richard Hannon after a spell in the States and took advantage of a lenient mark to land a handicap in good fashion at Wolverhamton last week. While this is tougher, the eight-year-old is clearly coming back into form now and he is taken to follow up. Simon Dow's Activo is meeting the selection on 3lbs better terms than if this was a handicap so has to be respected on only his second start for new connections. James Caird has claims on the pick of his turf form but has yet to prove that he is as effective on this surface, while Psychiatrist is on a long losing sequence and is becoming expensive to follow. Three Wrens by comparison is going the right way at present and has to be respected in receipt of weight from her older rivals but Hail The Chief indicated last time that he is now returning to his form of two seasons ago and is taken to win again.
Azarole (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Held up, never troubled leaders, 9th of 12, 12l behind Welsh Emperor (8-12) at Newmarket 6f Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
Activo (FR) 50-1 (8-5) Hampered over 6f out, headway when not clear run inside final 2f, switched left, ridden and every chance 1f out, not pace of winner, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Cimyla (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
Hail The Chief 11-2 (9-2) Soon led, ridden clear over 1f out, ran on, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Claret And Amber (8-9) by 1l, 13 ran.
James Caird (IRE) 16-1 (8-6) In touch, ridden and lost place over 2f out, 12th of 15, 7l behind Hartshead (8-8) at York 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Oct.
Psychiatrist 11-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden to lead final 100 yards, kept on well until headed and not pace of winner final 50 yards, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Red Spell (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Three Wrens (IRE) 2-1fav (9-3) Prominent, not clear run over 1f out, squeezed through inside final furlong, ran on, gaining near finish, 2nd of 12, hd behind Perfect Story (8-13) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
