held up, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, always just held
chased leader, led 3f out, hard ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, held on near finish
pulled hard, led, headed 3f out, weakened rapidly
raced wide, behind, headway 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
behind, headway on outside over 1f out, kept on into 3rd well inside final furlong
chased leaders, hard ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
held up, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra final furlong
in touch, headway to chase leader 2f out until over 1f out, one pace and no impression when lost 3rd well inside final furlong
in touch, lost place over 2f out, struggling after
slowly away and always behind
held up in rear, headway on inside well over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
Withdrawn
STRAIGHT FACE is the pick in the finale with Batchworth Blaise and Bollywood Style others to make appeal. The former Gay Kelleway inmate has won seven of his starts on artificial surfaces and while a very inexperienced boy has been booked for the job; this has been done in an effort to negate the 6lb penalty accrued for victory last week. He has won under an apprentice previously. Batchworth Blaise was third in a seller. The handicapper reacted with a 9lb rise though on the positive, that represented a much stronger run than any we had seen recently. Bollywood Style is a course-and-distance winner. He finished behind Peopleton Brook on his latest start so it will be interesting to see how that horse gets on in the opener. Fly By Nelly is often well backed though so far the money has stayed in the bookmakers satchels. Dynamo Dave has been ridden by this apprentice against the professionals. She will be able to claim 5lb under the terms of this race. Whotsit has won a similar race on the turf though has shown little to write home about of late. Plenty of plausible winners and Straight Face is the call.
Straight Face (IRE) 4-1 (8-13) Chased leaders on outside, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, pushed out, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol beating Hard Ball (8-9) by 4l, 10 ran.
Headache 7-2 (8-13) Chased leaders, led 2f out, soon ridden, ran on inside final furlong, just held on all out, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol beating Carmenero (9-10) by ns, 11 ran.
Proud Linus (USA) 33-1 (9-2) Dwelt, held up, never dangerous, 9th of 11, 5l behind Know No Fear (8-11) at Lingfield 6f app hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Fly By Nelly 11-4fav (9-1) Chased leaders, every chance when carried slightly left inside final 2f, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Goodbye Cash (8-9) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Castleburg 16-1 (9-13) Held up in touch, raced keenly, headway over 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Pastel Blue (8-7) at Lingfield 1m mdn fll (5) pol.
Bollywood Style 15-2 (9-2) Held up mid-division, pushed along and headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Peopleton Brook (9-4) at Lingfield 6f Handicap (0-58) (4yo+) (6) pol.
Whotsit (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, edged left over 1f out, one pace, 5th of 11, 7l behind Art Market (9-3) at Lingfield 7f Handicap (0-58) (4yo+) (6) pol.
Batchworth Blaise 20-1 (8-5) Slowly away, held up in rear, switched right to outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 3rd on line, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Trade Centre (9-4) at Lingfield 7f sell stks (6) pol in Dec.
Dynamo Dave (USA) 8-1 (8-4) Held up in rear, some late headway, never nearer, 9th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Top Flight Splash (8-10) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-50 (7) pol.
Torquemada (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 14, 22l behind Dynamo Dave (8-3) at Lingfield 7f app hcp 0-58 (6) pol in Nov.
Rony Dony (IRE) 80-1 (8-4) Raced freely, led over 5f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened rapidly, eased, last of 11, 31l behind Ivory Lace (9-6) at Brighton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) fm in Aug.
Safaseef (IRE) 8-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride and always behind, 11th of 13, 9l behind Ejeed (8-10) at Kempton 7f hcp (0-55) (6) pol.
Easy Wonder (GER) 16-1 (8-5) Held up in mid-division on inside, headway well over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to press for 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Ejeed (8-10) at Kempton 7f hcp (0-55) (6) pol.
