mid-division out wide, headway 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, stayed on well, always holding on
chased leader, pushed along over 3f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, headway going well to challenge 2f out, ridden and could not go pace of leader final furlong, stayed on well in 2nd
prominent, switched to far side 3f out, ridden 2f out, outpaced and weakened final furlong
mid-division, headway near side 2f out, soon pushed along and outpaced, plugged on final furlong
always towards rear, never involved
mid-division, headway almost upsides 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
led, ridden 3f out, hard pressed 2f out, soon headed, no extra inside final furlong
slowly away, in rear, pushed along off pace 2f out, late headway inside final furlong
rear of mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, soon outpaced, kept on
held up, pushed along off pace over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong for 4th, never on terms
We Still Believe won over 1m2f here last month but was only fourth behind Percy Willis over course and distance last time, though was keeping on and is 3lb better off today. The latter ran in snatches at Kempton five days ago but VALLEY OF FLOWERS is in cracking form. Her win here earlier in the month came over 2m but she has plenty of recent solid efforts to her name over this trip on Turf. Award Dancer has only run over this trip once before but won over 1m6f at Redcar last time and makes more appeal than other recent winners Peripeteia and Shifter. Fox Flame has only run here once before but has won at Wolverhampton and Southwell.
Strawman (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Awkward start, towards rear, soon switched right, went midfield 3f out, ran 2f out, kept on but unable to quicken inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Pillar Of Hope (10-1) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Award Dancer (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Towards rear, headway and waiting for gap 2f out, pushed along and switched left over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside last, led final strides, won at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Edge Of Darkness (9-6) by nk, 10 ran.
Percy Willis 22-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never dangerous, 5th of 13, 5 1/4l behind Waterloo Sunset (9-6) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Shake A Leg (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Prominent, ridden 2f out and carried head awkwardly, gradually weakened, 7th of 8, 4 1/4l behind Vaynor (9-13) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Valley Of Flowers (IRE) 9-4fav (9-2) Held up last, headway from 4f out, went third 3f out, ridden before 1f out, soon outpaced by front pair, kept on one pace near finish, 3rd of 7, 10 3/4l behind Flash Bardot (9-3) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
Fox Flame 13-2 (9-9) Slowly away, well in rear, headway out wide over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 11, 7 1/2l behind Robusto (9-10) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Libby (IRE) 50-1 (9-1) Keen early, held up, outpaced before halfway, tailed off from 3f out, never a factor, 6th of 7, dist behind Flash Bardot (9-3) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
Ghadbbaan 10-1 (9-3) In rear, pushed along over 3f out, never nearer, 5th of 9, 11 1/2l behind Golden Shot (9-11) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp (5) gs in Jul.
We Still Believe (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Missed break, held up in rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden 2f out, edged left and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 8, 1 1/4l behind Percy Willis (10-2) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Peripeteia 11-4 (9-13) Midfield, smooth progress over 3f out, soon led and ridden, a length ahead approaching final furlong, soon edged slightly right, pushed out close home, won at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Oct beating Gerrots (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Shifter 25-1 (8-12) In rear, pushed along well over 2f out, ridden and switched right to outer over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, led on line, won at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Lunar Landscape (9-3) by shd, 14 ran.
