led, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden and headed, went left last, lost 2nd near finish
chased leader, close in when hit 2 out, soon led, kept on, ridden out
held up in touch, headway 5th, ridden to chase leading pair after 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd near finish
held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace
chased leaders until weakened 3 out
chased leaders until 5th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, outpaced 3 out, stayed on again from next, never troubled leaders
Guru was a good winner at Stratford when last seen but a combination of a 9lb higher mark and an absence since May is of concern so preference is for San Antonio, who gets the vote ahead of Daryal. The last mentioned would have claims if fit enough for his return but is another that lacks a recent run and has a career high mark to defy. Miss Academy faces no easy task giving weight away all round, while Muntami is hard to recommend on the basis of recent form in Ireland and may be best watched. Creinch has given little cause for optimism in three starts since making a winning return at Plumpton in September and may be best watched now, while Noel Chance's Gold Again was well beaten when last seen and is hard to back with confidence on his first start since January 2005. The vote then goes to San Antonio, who made a winning return at Bangor earlier this month and is taken to defy the 15lb rise for that success.
Miss Academy (FR) 3-1 (11-6) Chased winner, until approaching 2 out, 4th and beaten when pulled up at the last in race won by Ellerslie Tom (10-0) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in May, 5 ran.
Daryal (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Held up in mid-division, stayed on under pressure approaching 2 out, no danger, 6th of 19, 11l behind Verasi (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) hvy in Dec.
Guru 9-2fav (10-11) Mid-division, hampered 2nd, not fluent 3rd, headway 5th, led approaching 2 out, ridden and joined 2 out, led soon after, kept on well, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in May beating Neveesou (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Creinch 66-1 (11-5) Behind, plugged on under pressure appproaching 2 out, 8th of 20, 27l behind Tipperary All Star (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-115 (3) gs.
San Antonio 9-1 (10-11) Soon tracking leaders, went 2nd from 4th, not fluent and led 3 out, clear approaching last, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd beating Inn For The Dancer (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Muntami (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 6th after 3 out, soon ridden, moderate 4th last, kept on, 4th of 22, 7l behind Katowice (10-9) at Naas 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-105 sft in Oct.
Gold Again (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Led to 6th, weakened before 4 out, 7th of 18, 31l behind Pole Star (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (E) gs in Jan '05.
