in touch, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
went right start in rear, never near leaders
took keen hold, in touch, pushed along over 1f out, kept on same pace
dwelt always in rear
towards rear, switched right over 1f out, headway on outer inside final furlong,ridden and ran to lead towards finish
close up, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, headway on inner entering final 2f, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed towards finish
led, ridden over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
slowly away pulled hard towards rear, pushed along and headway on inner entering final furlong, not reach leaders
raced wide track leaders, ridden over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, no extra
pressed leader until 2f out, ridden and stayed on one pace inside final furlong
Chica De La Noche is usually thereabouts at this level but came up short once again at Kempton last time while Violet's Lads is another regularly placed though has yet to win. ASTROSPEED (NAP) is less exposed and found only one too good at Kempton on his handicap debut and first start for James Fanshawe’s yard having failed to threaten when trained in Ireland. He gets the vote with plenty of scope for further improvement. Collate has tumbled down the weights and finished closer over track and trip recently but Kafeel has struggled since scoring over a mile here back in March.
Kafeel (USA) 16-1 (9-6) Always towards rear, 12th of 14, 12 1/2l behind Wilson (9-1) at Lingfield 7f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Takeonefortheteam 5-1 (8-13) Steadied in rear, headway halfway, soon struggling to challenge, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 13 1/4l behind Harry Beau (10-0) at Chepstow 7f hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Knockout Blow 66-1 (9-0) Steadied and bumped start, took keen hold in rear, ridden over 1f out, never threatened leaders, 6th of 9, 6 1/2l behind Kyllachy Dragon (9-6) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Fair Power (IRE) 66-1 (8-13) Always towards rear, 8th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Tamerlane (8-11) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Chica De La Noche 14-5fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 1f out, no impression on winner final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Soar Above (9-2) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Conqueress (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, not clear run over 1f out, switched right and no impression inside final furlong, 8th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Maureb (9-3) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Violet's Lads (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Close up, headway on inner over 1f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, not quicken close home, 2nd of 11, nk behind Garth Rockett (9-10) at Lingfield 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Dark Magic 16-1 (8-9) Prominent, led over 5f out, ridden and headed 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Kyllachy Dragon (9-6) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Astrospeed (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Mid-division on inside, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, not pace of winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Tamerlane (9-5) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Collate 14-1 (9-7) Keen in touch, pushed along 2f out, headway when not clear run approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on towards finish, 4th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Soaring Spirits (9-7) at Lingfield 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Foreign Legion (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) In touch, outpaced over 4f out and soon in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 4th of 10, 4l behind Bond Angel (9-7) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
