led, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied to go 2nd towards finish
close up in rear, pushed along 2f out, ridden and stayed on towards finish
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd close home
keen tracked leader after 1f, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out
dwelt tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, headway entering final furlong, ridden to lead inside final furlong, rider dropped rein close home
A prolific winner in his native Italy, AZZECCAGARBUGLI has yet to score for Marco Botti but went close to doing so at Chelmsford when caught on the post. This looks no tougher and he’s preferred to Tough Remedy. The latter has won three times over shorter trips but the jury is still out on his ability to stay this far having run into trouble at Lingfield on his first start over a mile. Qaffaal has won over course and distance though tends to save his best for Chelmsford and hasn’t raced since July. Ballard Down is another returning from an absence and stablemate Steel Train has so far done all his winning over 7f.
Azzeccagarbugli (IRE) 11-4 (9-6) Led, driven over 2f out, ridden and hard pressed from over 1f out, stayed on gamely inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 6, shd behind Calling Out (9-8) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Qaffaal (USA) 16-1 (9-10) Led early, close up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 6, 4 3/4l behind Mushtaq (9-2) at Nottingham 1m hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Ballard Down (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Missed break, in rear, outpaced over 2f out, soon beaten and eased, tailed off, last of 14, 29 1/4l behind Humbert (9-2) at Newcastle 1m hcp (2) pol in Jun.
Steel Train (FR) 15-2 (10-0) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 9, 9 1/2l behind Unforgiving Minute (10-0) at Wolverhampton 7f stks (6) pol in Dec.
Tough Remedy (IRE) 6-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, hampered over 1f out, soon switched right, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 6, 5 1/2l behind Arcanada (9-8) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Dec.