held up in touch, not much room and switched right 1f out, ridden and ran on towards finish
led after 2f, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
raced wide and held up, switched left to inner 2f out, full of running when nowhere to go until switched left well inside final furlong, ran on strongly, unlucky
always towards rear
soon led, headed after 2f, chased leader after, pushed along over 3f out, ridden to lead again over 1f out, headed and kept on inside final furlong
keen, held up mid-division, effort over 1f out, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden and weakened entering final 2f
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway and not much room approaching final furlong, kept on
raced wide in touch, improved 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
slowly into stride, always in rear
held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, ran on to take 2nd towards finish
RIVER KIROV is fancied to keep his good run of form going although he could face fierce opposition from Singleb and Shaded Edge to name but two. The Soviet Star gelding has done well since joining Michael Wigham but is still weighted some way below his peak and has the scope to continue his ascent back towards those heights. He has yet to win over seven but gets home well enough and can set that record straight here. Singleb has been making hay in sellers this summer but could find life harder back in this company; that said, he's in form and on a competitive enough mark so could feature. Shaded Edge won over six on his penultimate start but was staying on well over the same trip last time and could prove to be even better served by the extra furlong; he's worth a place on every short-list. Ever Cheerful is something of a course and distance specialist but hasn't been done any favours by the draw although he did run well last time. Haasem has a modest strike rate but ran well last time and has the services of George Baker so he merits consideration but we'll be siding with River Kirov.
Haasem (USA) 16-1 (8-11) Mid-division, headway under pressure over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind The Cayterers (8-13) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Ever Cheerful 40-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on to chase leading pair inside final furlong, took 2nd final strides, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Littledodayno (8-13) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
River Kirov (IRE) 10-3 (9-1) In touch, raced keenly, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, took 2nd near finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Milne Bay (8-9) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Little Knickers 28-1 (8-7) Went right start, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 6th of 10, 8l behind Electric Warrior (9-4) at Lingfield 7f clm (6) pol.
Surwaki (USA) 14-1 (8-8) Took keen hold, chased leader, hampered and switched right over 1f out, weakened after, 8th of 13, 4l behind The Cayterers (8-13) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Vanadium 4-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong to take 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Kensington (9-2) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Double Valentine 16-1 (8-2) Behind, no impression over 1f out, kept on towards finish, never nearer, 6th of 10, 6l behind Alqaahir (8-10) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Liberty Valance (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) In touch, effort over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 19l behind Barataria (8-13) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Over To You Bert 14-1 (8-13) Led, driven and headed 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out, 10th of 12, 8l behind Star Strider (9-5) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Maid of Ailsa (USA) 11-1 (8-4) Tracked leader to 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 8l behind Alqaahir (8-10) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Marmooq 5-1 (9-3) In touch, lost place 4f out, headway under pressure under 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 11, 3l behind Mr Chocolate Drop (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol.
Batchworth Blaise 8-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, pulled hard, raced wide, held up, ridden and weakened 2f out, 11th of 12, 12l behind General Feeling (9-0) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Shaded Edge 5-2fav (8-13) Raced wide throughout, towards rear, ridden over 2f out, ran on final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Mister Thatcher (8-5) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol.
Singleb (IRE) 5-2fav (9-9) Prominent, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, driven out and held on well close home, won at W'hampton 7f sll (6) pol beating Valentino Swing (9-3) by a hd, 12 ran.
