raced wide early, prominent, headway to lead 5f out and maintained strong pace, kicked clear 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd 100 yards out, weakened and lost places towards finish
tracked leaders on inside, travelling well when not clear run briefly well over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, went 4th towards finish
prominent, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on into 2nd final 100 yards, no impression on winner
difficult loading, led 3f, chased leader, ridden and lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong
steadied start, held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, hampered on inside over 2f out, some headway under pressure over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong
led early, in touch, headway 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, soon every chance until winner quickened by inside final furlong, weakened soon after
held up and behind, headway towards outside 2f out, sustained run to lead inside final furlong, soon ridden and quickened clear
held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway on outside over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish, never going pace of leading duo
Linton takes a further drop in the handicap after a third over 7f at Kempton but stablemate GREY MIRAGE is preferred. The latter is steadily running into form and won a similar event to this over track and trip early this year. Melvin The Grate is still improving judged on his recent win at Wolverhampton where a below-par Haaf A Sixpence was well beaten. The latter should do better here but Tigers Tale remains in the handicapper's grip and George Guru continues to struggle. Alfred Hutchinson enjoyed plenty of success on the all-weather last winter but still looks a shade high in the weights.
Grey Mirage 13-2 (9-6) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Pearl Nation (8-7) at Southwell 7f hcp (2) fbs.
Alfred Hutchinson 3-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, driven when switched outside over 2f out, wide and lost place entering straight, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, no impression, 6th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Big Baz (9-0) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Tigers Tale (IRE) 5-2 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, one pace inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 2l behind Lacan (8-11) at Kempton 1m hcp (2) pol.
George Guru 33-1 (9-6) Held up behind, outpaced 2f out, never able to challenge, last of 8, 10l behind Big Baz (9-0) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Santefisio 5-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, driven over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 7th of 10, 3l behind Musaddas (8-7) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Haaf A Sixpence 9-1 (9-7) Pulled hard in mid-division, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 23l behind Melvin The Grate (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) in Nov.
Melvin The Grate (IRE) 11-2 (8-9) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) in Nov beating Flow (9-4) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Rain God (USA) 40-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, lost place over 2f out, last of 6, 24l behind Unforgiving Minute (9-4) at Kempton 7f stks (3yo+) (2) pol.
Silverheels (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 7th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Billingsgate (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Oct.
Linton (AUS) 11-4 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Unforgiving Minute (9-4) at Kempton 7f stks (3yo+) (2) pol.
