made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on
raced wide, tracked winner, pushed along 5f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
close up in 3rd, switched wide and headway to chase winner 2f out, ridden and no impression final furlong
English Summer arrives badly out of sorts and Vercingetorix has won just the once since 2014. Oratorio's Joy has a shout on his third at Bath in September but has to race off mark this high on the all-weather and was well beaten at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day. EL CAMPEON has been placed over 2m the last twice and just caught at Kempton earlier this week. He won over 1m6f at Wolverhampton before that and gets the nod to come good again in this.
Oratorio's Joy (IRE) 14-1 (9-13) Towards rear, never dangerous, 9th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Elusive Cowboy (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Vercingetorix (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) In touch, headway 5f out, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 17 1/4l behind L'inganno Felice (9-11) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
English Summer 33-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders until ridden over 4f out, soon lost place, 7th of 9, dist behind Pivot Bridge (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
El Campeon 11-2 (9-9) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, good headway between horses tracking leaders over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden and stayed on, hung badly left inside final furlong, headed and no extra final strides, 2nd of 6, nk behind Aurora Gray (9-2) at Kempton 2m hcp (5) pol in Jan.