keen close up, ridden over 1f out, no impression
in touch in rear, headway entering final furlong, soon every chance, ran on
dwelt in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace
headway to lead after 2f, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
in rear, not trouble leaders
tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on (poor visibility)
led 2f, tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace
Nonrunner
A bit of a shocker to start proceedings with GAELIC SILVER put forward with minimum confidence. The 10-year-old is the senior member in this but does have form at a higher level and also the highest rating – Hector Crouch is a decent apprentice to have on board in a race like this. The three-year-old Hepplewhite could make a race of it if back to his best but he is 0-12 and now tried in cheekpieces. Artful Mind and Medicean Queen might be best of the rest on recent form, though that’s not saying much.
Barren Brook 50-1 (9-6) Dwelt, headway on outer to go close up over 8f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 13th of 14, 15 1/4l behind General Hazard (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Gaelic Silver (FR) 20-1 (9-10) Held up, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 18 1/4l behind Priors Brook (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Burning Desire (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Held up in touch, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten next, 13th of 18, dist behind Amantius (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Forced Family Fun 28-1 (10-9) Behind, pushed along before 3 out, never dangerous, soon pulled up, at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Artful Mind 12-1 (9-0) Close up 3f, in touch in rear, ridden over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, not trouble leaders, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Juste Pour Nous (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (6) pol in Dec.
Hepplewhite 3-1 (9-5) Dwelt headway to track leader after 2f, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 8, 15l behind Hairdryer (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Medicean Queen (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) In touch, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Courtsider (9-9) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Valantino Oyster (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Close up, hit and weakened 3 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Maid Of Tuscany (11-10) at Fakenham 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct.