tracked leader, ridden and effort 3f out, kept on until weakened 2f out
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ran on final furlong to lead towards finish
held up behind, headway to chase leaders 2f out, not paced to challenge 1f out, stayed on
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened from 2f out
mid-division, headway 2f out, stayed on to lead over 1f out, headed and no extra towards finish
prominent, joined leader 6f out, led over 4f out, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
pulled hard in touch, ridden 4f out, no headway 3f out, weakened over 2f out
started very slowly, settled in rear, late headway from 2f out, never dangerous
behind, headay and led over 3f out, headed and no extra over 1f out
towards rear, headway over 2f out, every chance 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
behind, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten
tracked leaders to over 5f out, weakened from over 3f out, tailed off over 1f out
led until headed over 4f out, weakened
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 3f out
Spanish Ridge found one too good in two starts over similar trips towards the end of last season and has to be respected on his return but preference is for recent Nottingham winner Sphinx, who gets the vote with Prime Contender rated the best of the rest. The selection could hardly have been more impressive at Nottingham and looks to be fairly treated having been raised just 6lbs since then so is taken to follow up. Queen of Iceni, a stablemate of Spanish Ridge, may need more time and is probably best watched, while another Dunlop inmate Gifted Musician steps up in trip on his return and could be of interest if fit enough for his return. David Barron has his team in good form at present so recent Musselburgh runner-up Trance has to be respected but has yet to prove his effectiveness over this far. Estrelle has yet to win a race and is unlikely to open her account here as Sphinx was good value for his Nottingham success and it will take a good one to beat him.
Spinning Coin 16-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 22l behind Country Pursuit (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Trance (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Held up, ridden and headway to challenge when bumped 2f out, led inside final furlong, headed and one pace final 100 yards, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Reluctant Suitor (8-3) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Dundry 9-1 (9-4) Behind, headway over 5f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 13, 36l behind Toldo (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Spanish Ridge (IRE) 5-2fav (9-2) Soon mid-division, good headway when hampered 1m out, led 3f out, driven and headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Grasp (7-12) at Bath 2m 1f 3yo hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Gandalf 16-1 (8-7) Mid-division, outpaced 4f out, headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 6th of 14, 7l behind Karlu (8-5) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (4) gs in Sept.
Patrixprial 25-1 (9-9) Held up, ridden and headway over 2d out, ran on inside final furlong, 3rd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Sphinx (9-5) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcap (5) sft.
Estrelle (GER) 6-1 (8-4) Held up, ridden over 3f out, kept on under pressure from over 1f out, 5th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Caribbean Pearl (7-13) at Newmarket 1m 4f fll hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Eastborough (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, no further impression, 7th of 14, 11l behind Kayf Aramis (8-4) at Bath 2m 1f hcap (5) sft.
Sphinx (FR) 50-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway 3f out, led 1f out, soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Nottingham 1m 6f hcap (5) sft beating Dhehdaah (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 16 ran.
Queen of Iceni 7-1 (8-0) Pulled hard, chased leaders, led 10f out, soon clear, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, well behind Indian Pipe Dream (9-5) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Oct.
Prime Contender 12-1 (8-6) Close up, led over 4f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Country Pursuit (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Gifted Musician 13-2 (9-0) In touch, ridden and headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Catterick 1m 4f mdn stk (5) sft in Nov beating Desert Storm (9-0) by 5l, 15 ran.
Aylmer Road (IRE) 20-1 (8-5) Behind, kept on from over 1f out, never dangerous, 5th of 11, 11l behind Bulwark (9-5) at Nottingham 2m 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sept.
The Composer 8-1 (8-10) Tracked leader 10f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 9th of 12, 8l behind Young Mick (8-10) at Kempton 1m 4f hcap (5) pol in Mar.
