raced keenly, held up in last pair, steady headway on outside tracking leaders over 3f out, ridden to challenge and edged left inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
led after 2f, ridden over 1f out, headed towards finish
led 2f, tracked leader, every chance 2f out, lost 2nd and weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, in touch, headway tracking leaders over 10f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened inside final 2f
soon held up in touch, smooth headway tracking leaders over 3f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on well to lead towards finish
held up and behind, headway chasing leaders 3f out, ridden over 2f out weakened soon after
dwelt, keen in touch, headway chasing leaders 3f out, hung left inside final 2f, soon ridden, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
Mark Johnston sent out last year’s inaugural winner and Elegiac has every chance having won a handicap over 1m6f at York a fortnight ago. Aspetar is penalised for an earlier Listed success at Goodwood but has plenty of scope and can still figure on these terms but a chance is taken on OUTBOX. The latter remains unbeaten having defied a penalty to make all over 1m4f at Leicester last month under a hands and heels ride and Simon Crisford’s yard continues in flying form. He’s preferred to the filly Spirit Of Appin and the remainder have it all to do at the weights including recent winners Jedhi and Swordbill.
Aspetar (FR) 12-1 (9-1) Towards rear, headway 3f out, went 3rd over 1f out, kept on and no impression on front pair, 3rd of 11, 3 3/4l behind Dolphin Vista (9-3) at Ayr 1m 2f lst stks (1) sft in Sep.
Elegiac 6-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, switched left and headway over 3f out, led 2f out, clear from over 1f out, eased towards finish, won at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Proschema (9-7) by 4l, 12 ran.
Candidate (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden inside final 2f, weakened soon after, 6th of 11, 9 1/2l behind Spirit Ridge (9-7) at Leicester 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Lucky Lover Boy (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Tracked clear leader, took closer order over 6f out, under pressure over 5f out, weakened over 2f out, 13th of 16, 33 1/2l behind Divin Bere (9-4) at Bath 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Outbox 8-11fav (9-9) Made all, ridden and quickened over 2f out, 3 lengths clear approaching final furlong, eased close home, won at Leicester 1m 4f stks (4) gd in Sep beating Forest View (8-11) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Swordbill 4-6fav (9-11) Tracked leading pair on inside, went 2nd on inside 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, nk behind General Zoff (9-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Jedhi 5-1 (8-6) Keen held up, ridden and headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, all out, won at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp fll (3) sft in Oct beating Tarte Tropezienne (8-9) by nk, 9 ran.
Spirit Of Appin 7-2 (8-11) Dwelt raced wide close up, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 8th of 10, 10 3/4l behind Lady Bergamot (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp fll (2) gs in Sep.
