held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up rear of mid-division, took keen hold, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, some headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
tried to anticipate start and missed break, held up towards rear, not much room and switched right over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
chased leaders, every chance 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong
in touch in mid-division, closed going well 2f out, challenged from 1f out, led well inside final furlong, ridden out
keen early, led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leader, led 2f out, pressed from 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, stayed on
held up in rear, shaken up 3f out, no impression
Benadalid is the only course winner in the line-up and, though that victory was over 6f as a juvenile, he won a better class handicap over this trip at Ripon in August. Fiesole, a regular winner over hurdles and on Turf, hasn't shown much on the all-weather but Firewater's one run on Tapeta produced a decent effort at Wolverhampton, though the latter was beaten a length by Regal Mirage at Pontefract in July and the winner is 6lb better off. COLONY QUEEN (NAP) won at Wolverhampton and on three different types of ground last summer, all over this trip. She's very consistent and, if ready after her break, can take this.
Daawy (IRE) 22-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, effort on outside 3f out, soon ridden, weakened well over 1f out, 8th of 9, 9 3/4l behind Everything For You (9-7) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Benadalid 25-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 19, 12 1/2l behind Dubai Icon (9-2) at York 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Tim Rocco (GER) 7-2 (11-9) Led after 1st, driven and headed approaching 2 out where not fluent, ridden and weakened between last 2, 6th of 8, 17 1/2l behind Flanagans Field (10-4) at Catterick 2m hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Fiesole 3-1 (10-0) Steadied soon after start, held up towards rear, steady headway 3f out, driven and switched right over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 4l behind Blue Medici (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Illustrissime (USA) 18-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, well beaten from 3 out, last of 9, dist behind Haafapiece (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Two Blondes (IRE) 10-1 (10-2) Keen tracked leaders, hit 3rd and soon led, ridden 2 out, headed narrowly last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Welland (11-4) at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Regal Mirage (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Held up, ridden and headway over 2f, weakened approaching final furlong, 7th of 14, 23 1/2l behind Bo Samraan (9-0) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Colony Queen 16-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on to lead close home, won at Newbury 1m 2f hcp fll (4) hvy in Oct beating Elegant Love (8-4) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Royal Regent 3-1jfav (9-9) Prominent, led over 7f out, edged right over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, 3rd and beaten towards finish, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Three Castles (8-6) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Aug.
Firewater 12-1 (10-1) In touch, headway over 3f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 19, 13 1/2l behind Gamesters Icon (10-4) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Oct.
Gripper 150-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along halfway, lost place 4f out, tailed off, 13th of 14, dist behind Spirit Of Angel (9-2) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
