in touch, pushed along over 2f out, not trouble leaders
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on
towards rear, wide and headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, nearest finish
pulled hard, held up, headway to track leader 5f out, pushed along 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong
slowly away, in rear, headway over 1f out, nearest finish
close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slow into stride, in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong
keen tracked leader until 5f out, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
close up, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
The Johnstons’ yard had four winners at this fixture last year and has won two of the last three renewals of this. SPIRIT CATCHER makes his handicap debut having won a novices' race at Redcar last term and is preferred to stable companions Value Theory and Qipao. Atrium has won a nursery at Newcastle and is 5lb higher while Last Hoorah is a novice winner at Kempton. Baikal went close at Doncaster on October’s handicap bow and is another to consider while Dirtyoldtown and Sunday Justice are others handicapping for the first time.
Value Theory (IRE) 13-2 (9-0) Led, headed and edged right over 1f out, weakened final 100 yards, 6th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Mise En Scene (9-0) at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) gd in Aug.
Dirtyoldtown (IRE) 40-1 (9-1) Disputed lead until ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 10, 10 1/2l behind Coroebus (9-1) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Desert Angel (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Held up, headway and switched right over 1f out, switched left entering final furlong, not pace to challenge, 4th of 8, 1 1/4l behind Odisseo (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Spirit Catcher (IRE) 4-6fav (9-9) Led, increased tempo 2f out, pressed inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 3, nk behind Windseeker (9-2) at Chelmsford City 7f stks (5) pol in Oct.
Atrium 11-2 (9-7) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, led 1f out, ran on well, won at Newcastle 7f (4) pol in Nov beating The Menstone Gem (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Qipao 5-1 (9-7) Close up, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong, last of 6, 3 1/4l behind General Panic (9-0) at Doncaster 7f (3) sft in Oct.
Bullet Force (IRE) 100-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 15 1/2l behind Luxembourg (9-1) at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Baikal 9-2 (8-5) Unseated rider behind stalls, raced bit wide tracking leader, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner towards finish, 2nd of 7, nk behind Oh Herberts Reign (8-13) at Doncaster 1m (3) sft in Oct.
Last Hoorah 9-4 (9-9) Made all, ridden over 2f out, ran on well, won at Kempton 7f stks (5) pol in Oct beating Seascape Girl (8-11) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Sunday Justice (IRE) 6-4fav (9-7) Bumped by rival start, took keen hold, towards rear, asked for effort over 2f out, one paced thereafter, last of 5, 8l behind My Bonnie Lassie (8-11) at Catterick 6f stks (5) gd in Sep.