held up in last place, smooth headway from over 2f out, led on bit approaching final furlong, soon eased inside final furlong, won at a canter
slowly away, keen and held up, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden and no impression over 2f out, until stayed on to go 4th inside final furlong
mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden and weakened final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on, no chance with winner
led 1f, tracked leader, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
dwelt, led after 1f, set steady pace, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
keen tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, soon edged left, kept on one pace
pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression and edged left over 1f out
reared start slowly away, headway to track leaders after 2f, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
OFFICIAL STYLE appears to have been allotted a workable mark and he heads the short-list from Tamaathul and Diam Queen. This race is often won by a smart individual but it has still proved difficult to give weight away with only two horses successfully carrying more than nine stone in nine renewals. That counts against Wigmore Hall who failed to run his race at Ascot in October and Diam Queen who finished the season with her reputation intact following victory at Lingfield. Tamaathul is making his first foray into the handicap ranks having won his maiden in impressive fashion at Doncaster following a fine debut second to Dancing David at Newbury; he looks to be on a very fair mark but we'd want to see the yard going through the gears. Therefore, we come to Official Style who has yet to get his head in front which is a negative given the profile of recent winners of this race. However, that may have resulted in a slightly better mark than may otherwise have been the case and this Dante entry should be able to go very close from this initial perch.
Wigmore Hall (IRE) 9-4 (9-0) Held up in touch, headway halfway, soon driven, weakened over 1f out, eased, last of 5, 21l behind Corporal Maddox (9-4) at Ascot 7f 2yo stks (2) gs in Oct.
Diam Queen (GER) 7-2fav (9-7) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, driven to lead well inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Lingfield 1m 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov beating Nave (8-6) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Tamaathul 5-4fav (9-3) Made all, clear over 1f out, ran on, won at Doncaster 7f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Oct beating Quick Wit (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Contract Caterer (IRE) 9-4fav (9-7) Took keen hold early, tracked leader, pushed along to lead over 1f out, driven final furlong, stayed on well, won at Goodwood 1m 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep beating Flying Destination (8-10) by nk, 8 ran.
Spanish Duke (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Mid-division, hung left from over 3f out, headway 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct beating Diam Queen (9-0) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Right Step 8-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 9l behind Simenon (9-5) at Ayr 1m 2yo nov stk (4) gs in Sep.
Whippers Love (IRE) 15-8 (9-7) Pressed leader, led just over 2f out, narrowly headed just over 1f out, dropped to 1 length 3rd and looked held when hampered and snatched up 110 yards out, 3rd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Rock A Doodle Doo (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Muwalla 5-6fav (9-3) Made all, clear 2f out, ridden out final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Feb beating Dane Cottage (8-12) by 7l, 5 ran.
Arlequin (8-11) 6th of 7, 8l behind Paris Vegas (8-11) at Cagnes-sur-Mer(FR) 1m 2f stk std in Feb.
Official Style 6-4fav (9-0) Held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, soon edged right, no impression, 2nd of 16, 4l behind Mufarrh (9-0) at Leicester 7f mdn stks (4) gd in Oct.
First In The Queue (IRE) 5-1 (8-11) Mid-division, headway 2f out, chased leader approaching final furlong, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn auc stks (5) pol in Nov beating Ice Diva (8-6) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Vulcanite (IRE) Evensfav (8-5) Made all, ridden clear over 1f out, pushed out readily, won at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar beating Yemeni Princess (9-7) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Averroes (IRE) (0-13) last of 5, 12l behind Behkabad (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2yo Grp 3 sft in Sep.
