pressed leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed inside final 2f, weakened final 100 yards
held up behind, headway on outside over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, took 3rd towards finish, not reach front pair
in rear, outpaced 3f out, never a threat
mid-division, headway 2f out, went 2nd when ridden over 1f out, soon challenged, stayed on to lead narrowly well inside final furlong, held on
behind, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression
soon led, headed over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
led early, tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, lost 2 places towards finish
mid-division on outer, outpaced 2f out, soon ridden, never on terms
mid-division, driven over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, took 4th towards finish, no impression
Modernism last won when landing this contest a year ago but hasn’t raced since September and it could pay to stick with VAN HUYSEN. The latter won a higher grade handicap over track and trip earlier this month and can defy a 3lb rise. Bunbury should be sharper for last month’s return from a lay-off though is 10lb higher than when scoring at Windsor in July and Dutch Uncle makes more appeal on his victory here back in May. Yarmouth winner Zain Emperor is unproven over the trip but Spin Point is interesting on his belated reappearance having won a maiden for Jim Bolger in Ireland last year and debuting for new connections today.
Bunbury 22-1 (9-6) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, wide and headway 2f out, soon chased winner, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 13, 3 1/4l behind Nonios (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Ansaab 40-1 (11-0) Chased leaders to before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Ozzie The Oscar (11-8) at Wetherby 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Dutch Uncle 8-1 (9-10) Held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 4 3/4l behind Towerlands Park (9-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Modernism 11-1 (9-12) Always towards rear, 6th of 9, 17 1/4l behind Mukhayyam (9-9) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Van Huysen (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) Pushed up to track leaders, pushed along over 2f out, led entering final furlong, ridden out, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Dec beating Natural Scenery (9-3) by nk, 10 ran.
Best Example (USA) 66-1 (9-6) Slowly away towards rear, ridden over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, never on terms, 13th of 14, 8 1/2l behind Via Via (9-2) at Newmarket 7f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
In The Red (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Haaf A Sixpence (9-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Zain Emperor (IRE) 3-1 (8-13) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 4 3/4l behind Fastnet Tempest (9-4) at Yarmouth 1m hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Spin Point (IRE) 4-1fav (9-7) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, closer entering straight, soon ridden and 5th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 18, 9 3/4l behind Stronger Than Me (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gd in Oct.
Saint Honore 4-1 (9-11) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon faded, 7th of 8, 8l behind Tapis Libre (10-9) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
