led 1f, tracked leader until 5f out, stayed well there until weakened quickly over 2f out, soon behind, tailed off
took keen hold, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
took keen hold, held up tracking leaders, effort between horses over 3f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened final furlong
led after 1f, headed approaching final 3f, soon lost 2nd and outpaced over 2f out, stayed on again from over 1f out, went modest 3rd inside final furlong
slowly into stride, headway on outside 12f out, soon settled in 5th, pushed along 4f out, headway to track leader 3f out, ridden to lead 1f out, stayed on strongly to hold on nearing finish
took keen hold, held up in last trio, headway on outside over 4f out, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5f out, led approaching final 3f, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, stayed on, always just held
Soft ground is something of an unknown factor for the majority of these. The likes of High Jinx and Repeater certainly have claims on their best form but aren't exactly reliable. Flying Officer and Mighty Yar are less exposed than most so probably have the most scope for improvement, though both are stepping up in trip today. BIOGRAPHER went very close in this grade at Sandown last summer having won a Listed race over this distance at Ascot in 2012 on a soft surface. His run in a Group 3 at Ascot in October, when finishing ahead of Gold Cup heroine Estimate, suggests he's the one to beat today as last year's second Earth Amber looks to be facing stiffer opposition this time around and Renew appears a fast-ground performer.
Biographer 16-1 (9-7) Held up in last pair, pushed along and outpaced inside final 3f, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 6th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Royal Diamond (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Continuum 10-1 (9-6) Mid-division, took keen hold, ridden and effort when kept in by rival over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, unable to get on terms, 6th of 18, 2 1/2l behind Lahaag (9-9) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Oct.
Gabrial's King (IRE) 3-1 (9-8) Tracked leading pair until 3f out, soon weakened, last of 6, 17l behind Magika (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Jan.
High Jinx (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 3f, pushed along over 4f out, weakened 3f out, 10th of 12, 13l behind Royal Diamond (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Repeater 20-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway 2f out, driven over 1f out, ridden and kept on under pressure inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 4th of 7, 5l behind Secret Number (8-7) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
Flying Officer (USA) 11-4 (9-7) Slowly into stride, held up tracking leaders, edged left and went 2nd over 2f out, led over 1f out, edged left and pushed clear final furlong, easily, won at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jun beating Sennockian Star (9-1) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Mighty Yar (IRE) 11-4fav (9-4) Held up in rear, pushed along 4f out, headway on outside over 2f out, went 3rd 2f out, soon hung right and ridden, switched left over 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, won going away (hand timed), won at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul beating Leitrim Pass (9-4) by 4l, 7 ran.
Earth Amber 16-1 (9-0) Mid-division, lost place over 3f out, soon weakened, 32nd of 33, well behind Scatter Dice (8-8) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Renew (IRE) 9-1 (8-11) 8th of 12, 10l behind Cavalryman (9-2) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 6f Grp 3 gd in Mar.
Thecornishcockney 6-1 (9-2) Went left start, soon switched right, in rear, ran out over 8f out, in a race won by Castilo Del Diablo (9-2) at Kempton 2m cnd stks (4yo+) (2) pol in Mar, 10 ran.
