in touch, pushed along and lost ground under 4f out, ridden under 3f out and soon left behind
chased leaders, raced freely, progress to challenge under 3f out, ridden in 3rd over 2f out, kept on until no extra and weakened from over 1f out
led, pushed along over 3f out and soon headed, weakened from under 2f out
tracked leader, headway to challenge 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, ridden in 2nd under 2f out, rallied inside final furlong until no extra and held close home
held up, headway over 3f out, shaken up over 2f out, closed over 1f out, ran on
held up in last, pushed along over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out and soon beaten
chased leaders, raced freely, headway on outer to challenge over 3f out, led going well over 2f out, extended advantage over 1f out, ran on until pressed well inside final furlong, always holding on
NonRunner
CHOCOLATE BOX was having only his second outing in a visor when ending a long losing run at Chelmsford. That was in a higher-grade contest than this and he can defy a 2lb rise. Victoriano bids for a hat-trick of course and distance wins with every chance having beaten Mukha Magic last time with Riggsby not far behind in third. The runner-up has subsequently gone close at Kempton while Al Kout is capable at this level though hasn’t won since 2019.
Ravenscar (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Chased leader until after 6th, every chance 3 out, no impression before last, 7th of 11, 12l behind Ask Blossomfort (11-1) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Al Kout 2-1fav (9-13) Led, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 2 1/2l behind Atalanta Breeze (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Chocolate Box (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Led after 1f, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, all out, won at Chelmsford City 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Socially Shady (8-12) by shd, 6 ran.
Victoriano (IRE) 9-4 (8-9) Chased leaders, asked for effort over 2f out, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, edged clear final furlong, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Mukha Magic (9-4) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Nastasiya 28-1 (10-5) Raced in mid-division, made headway before 2 out, ridden and rallied after last, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, 11l behind Sonning (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Nataleena (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) In rear, headway when ridden over 2f out, stayed on for modest fifth final furlong, never dangerous, 5th of 11, 7 1/2l behind First Charge (10-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Riggsby (IRE) 20-1 (8-3) In rear, asked for effort 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, never dangerous, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Victoriano (8-9) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Mukha Magic 16-1 (9-9) Handy, ridden and joined leader well over 2f out, headed over 1f out, rallied and stayed on strongly to press winner all the way to line, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind First Charge (9-12) at Kempton 2m hcp (5) pol in Nov.
