took keen hold, tracked leaders, driven over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to dispute 3rd final furlong, no impression with front pair
behind, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, never a threat
tracked leaders, raced wide over 4f out, driven over 2f out, weakened and behind from over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up in rear, driven over 2f out, soon ridden and edged left, kept on, not trouble leaders
led, hard pressed 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, headed final strides
slowly into stride, mid-division, tracked leaders over 4f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on when hard pressed for 3rd final furlong, no impression with front pair
tracked leader, challenged 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on under pressure to lead final srides
Andrew Balding will be expecting better things from WAR OF SUCCESSION (NAP), who improved massively from his opening run to end up finishing second to subsequent Listed winner Sir Dancealot at Kempton in September with much better fancied rivals behind. He should be capable of stepping up this campaign and can see off What's The Story, who wasn't beaten far in any of his three starts at Hamilton. Irish raider Sharp Defence had a run at Meydan in December after showing potential at Dundalk when beaten just a neck over 6f. The four-year-old Manshood showed a bit of potential for William Haggas and Paul Midgley should find a race for him at some stage.
Manshood (IRE) 11-4 (9-5) Mid-division, headway 4f out, led over 3f out, headed 1f out, soon ridden, kept on, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Hyland Heather (9-0) at Redcar 6f mdn stks (5) gd in Sep.
Tambour 10-1 (9-5) Tracked leader until pushed along inside final 3f, chased leading pair until inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 15 1/2l behind On Fire (9-5) at Newcastle 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Chunkyfunkymonkey 80-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out in 6th place, no extra, 6th of 11, 11 3/4l behind Dream Castle (9-5) at Doncaster 7f mdn stks (5) gd in Apr.
Helovaplan (IRE) 9-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Baashiq (9-5) at Redcar 1m mdn stks (5) gs in Oct.
Sharp Defence (USA) (9-0) 7th of 12, 19 1/4l behind Capezzano (9-0) at Meydan 7f mdn stks fst in Dec.
War Of Succession 16-1 (8-12) In touch, headway over 2f out, chased winner entering final furlong, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Sir Dancealot (9-2) at Kempton 7f stks (4) pol in Sep.
What's The Story 13-8 (9-5) With leader, led 2f out, headed inside final furlong, every chance inside final furlong, kept on and just held close home, 2nd of 7, shd behind Leontes (9-5) at Hamilton 6f mdn stks (4) gs in Jul.
