in touch, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on inside final furlong
tracked leader, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on
in rear, never near leaders
steadied start, held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, never on terms
in touch, pushed along 2f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, no threat to winner
close up, switched right over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on to go 4th towards finish
held up towards rear, some late headway entering final furlong
held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, never a factor
keen, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
raced wide, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out
NonRunner
A decent handicap but there may be a question mark over whether Shady Mccoy can transfer recent improvement on Turf to the Polytrack. Belgian Bill was just ahead of Eagle Creek when rediscovering his form at Kempton and is well treated nowadays. Utmost is the least exposed so looks a danger while Gabrial, Third Time Lucky and Forceful Appeal are not without hope. SACRED ACT made the in-form Gulliver pull out all the stops here at the start of the month. A 3lb rise if fair and he can go one better today. Certificate is preferred to Charles Molson of the remainder.
Gabrial (IRE) 28-1 (9-6) Hood removed slightly late and slowly away, towards rear, headway over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 20, 2 1/4l behind Lord Glitters (9-3) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Arcanada (IRE) 20-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders stand side, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 17th of 18, 34 1/4l behind Accidental Agent (9-3) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Shady Mccoy (USA) 16-1 (9-4) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed near finish, 2nd of 19, nk behind Speculative Bid (9-10) at Doncaster 7f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Third Time Lucky (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Led, ridden 2f out, joined over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 5th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Convey (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (2) pol in Apr.
Sacred Act 12-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 13, nk behind Gulliver (9-5) at Lingfield 7f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Utmost (USA) 10-3fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on and just held for 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Forest Ranger (9-5) at Newcastle 1m stks (2) pol in Apr.
Charles Molson 9-1 (9-8) Held up in last pair, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 13, 3 3/4l behind Gulliver (9-5) at Lingfield 7f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Forceful Appeal (USA) 33-1 (8-2) Led 1f, tracked leading pair, 2nd again 2f out, ridden and no chance with winner over 1f out, lost 2nd and no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 3l behind G K Chesterton (8-10) at Epsom 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Belgian Bill 33-1 (9-7) Tracked leader, led approaching final furlong, ran on gamely, caught last strides, 2nd of 14, hd behind Brigliadoro (9-6) at Kempton 1m hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Eagle Creek (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway on inside chasing leaders over 2f out, switched left and kept on in 2nd inside final furlong, just outpaced into 3rd close home, 3rd of 14, nk behind Brigliadoro (9-6) at Kempton 1m hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Swift Approval (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 5 1/4l behind Masham Star (9-3) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (2) pol in Sep.
Certificate 6-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway on outside from over 1f out, went 3rd towards finish, unable to challenge, 3rd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Steady Pace (9-5) at Chelmsford City 7f stks (2) pol in Sep.