tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
refused to race
keen led, ridden and headed entering final furlong, soon weakened
close up, pushed along to challenge leader inside final furlong, ridden to lead towards finish, readily
tracked leader, ridden to lead entering final furlong, soon pressed, headed towards finish
close up in rear, ridden over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
Fox Duty Free should make a bold bid attempting to repeat last year’s success in this having posted a better effort at Wolverhampton while Imperial Sands finished in front Corazon Espinado when going close over track and trip and can also figure. Animal Instinct won a lower grade contest at Kempton and is 5lb higher while Apex King is another upped in class. MOBASHR came up short in a tough race at Chelmsford on his handicap bow but has plenty of scope for further progress and Marco Botti’s charge may prove the one to side with in an open affair.
Imperial Sands (IRE) 11-2 (9-7) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Pistoletto (9-1) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Fox Duty Free (IRE) 5-2 (9-10) Chased leader until 5f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on, held and lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 6, hd behind Street Kid (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Corazon Espinado (IRE) 28-1 (8-8) Towards rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Edraak (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Mobashr (USA) 3-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, headway out wide over 1f out, ridden and went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 7, 3 1/4l behind United Front (9-9) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Animal Instinct 4-1 (9-2) Made all, set slow pace, pushed along and quickened tempo over 2f out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, good ride, won at Kempton 1m hcp (3) pol in Dec beating Uzincso (9-8) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Apex King (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Close up, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 12 3/4l behind Parallel World (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (4) pol in Dec.