mid-division, headway to chase winner over 2f out, not pace to challenge, stayed on
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ran on to take 3rd inside final furlong, never troubled leading pair
tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden clear over 1f out, ran on strongly, ridden out
held up mid-divsion, short of room over 2f out, kept on when not clear run, not pace to trouble leaders
led 3f, stayed prominent, weakened and hung left from 2f out
held up towards rear, rapid headway on outer to lead after 3f, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, lost place 3f out, never dangerous
started slowly, in rear, headway 5f out to chase leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
prominent, short of room on inside rail over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, no impression
raced wide, always behind
Barton Sands look capable of taking this poor race, with Shaheer and Dagola others for the short list. The selection has three course and distance wins to his name and enjoys this surface. Dropped back in grade once more, he has strong claims here at these weights and we will take a chance with him. Salinger looks well treated on official ratings, but is so badly out of form it is hard to fancy him, and the biggest threat may come from Shaheer. The gelding was not disgraced in defeat last time and a 4lb drop will undoubtedly help his cause here, so he should go much closer. Dagola rarely shows more than a glimmer of his best away from Wolverhampton where he has enjoyed both his wins and cannot be recommended seriously after his latest start here, and so we will tentatively suggest Barton Sands to take the contest.
Barton Sands (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Mid-division, chased leaders 2f out, stayed on well from over 1f out, not pace to challenge, 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Libre (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm (6) pol.
Pharoah's Gold (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, always behind, 10th of 13, 9l behind Adobe (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f stk (7) pol.
Salinger (USA) 40-1 (9-0) Raced centre, keen, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 12th of 18, 14l behind Hurricane Coast (8-9) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-70 (5) hvy in Oct.
Competitor 25-1 (9-4) Started slowly, always behind, 11th of 12, 23l behind Lady Taverner (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Rasid (USA) 33-1 (8-10) Towards rear, wide, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, well behind over 2f out, 12th of 13, 32l behind Libre (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm (6) pol.
Senor Eduardo 25-1 (9-0) With leaders until lost place over 4f out, last of 14, 21l behind Witchcraft (8-9) at Southwell 1m stk (7) fbs in Nov.
Shaheer (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Soon led, headed 6f out, led again over 3f out, headed 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 4l behind Gem Bien (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol.
Somewhere My Love 40-1 (8-9) Never nearer than mid-division, 10th of 14, 12l behind Revolve (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f app stk (7) pol in Nov.
Teutonic (IRE) 100-1 (8-3) Dwelt and behind, driven and headway over 3f out, ridden and no impression from over 1f out, 6th of 10, 16l behind Dark Charm (9-10) at Hamilton 1m 1f clm (6) gf in Aug.
Je Suis Belle 7-2jt-fav (8-6) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened 4f out, 7th of 9, 20l behind Chater Knight (8-11) at Southwell 1m 3f clm (6) fbs.
Naivety 50-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, held up, short of room over 2f out, never dangerous, 10th of 13, 5l behind Mister Completely (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f stk (7) pol.
Dagola (IRE) 33-1 (8-10) In touch, ridden 3f out, no headway, weakened 2f out, 8th of 13, 10l behind Libre (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm (6) pol.