chased leaders on inside, hung right and weakened over 2f out
raced keenly disputing 5th on inside, hung right and weakened 2f out
slowly into stride, held up in rear, gained a place over 4f out, headway out wide 2f out, soon ridden, plugged on inside final furlong, went 3rd post, not pace to challenge
led, narrowly headed over 1f out, rallied gamely to lead again final 110 yards
wore hood to post, edgy, slowly into stride, held up disputing 5th, good headway out wide tracking leaders 3f out, every chance over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
raced wide early, tracked leaders, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, headed and no extra final 110 yards
raced wide early, tracked leaders, every chance 2f out, soon lost 2nd, hung right and outpaced over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, lost 3rd post
held up in last pair, dropped to rear over 4f out, ridden and carried head high 2f out, plugged on inside final furlong
The likes of Poet's Dawn, Cockalorum and Society Red are old favourites and, along with Strawman, previous course and distance winners. Buthe four-year-olds Animato and Whitefeathersfall have a bit more scope for improvement and the latter won first-time up last season. The handicapper is struggling to keep pace with Irish import PAINTERS PALETTE (NAP), who should complete the hat-trick if transferring recent Tapeta form back to Turf.
Animato 7-1 (9-8) Mid-division, headway when not clear run 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, 4th of 12, 5 1/4l behind Prydwen (10-4) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Val Bassett (FR) (8-11) 15th of 16, 11 1/2l behind Riocorvo (8-12) at ParisLongchamp 1m 2f hcp gs in May.
Strawman (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway well over 1f out, kept on, no match for winner, 3rd of 11, 6 3/4l behind First Officer (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Cockalorum (IRE) 11-2 (9-10) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 14 1/2l behind Poker Face (9-12) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Painters Palette (IRE) Evensfav (9-13) Steadied start, close up, plenty to do over 1f out, headway approaching final furlong, ran on to lead close home, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Apr beating First Dynasty (9-13) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Society Red 12-1 (10-11) Led, pushed along over 2f out, headed inside final 2f, lost 2nd turning in, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 13l behind Dream Harder (10-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Poet's Dawn 14-1 (9-2) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, stayed on well to lead 110 yards out, just did enough, won at Nottingham 1m hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Cisco Disco (9-8) by nk, 9 ran.
Mythical (FR) 33-1 (9-11) Raced wide, tracked leader, came stand side over 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 12, 10 1/2l behind Freak Out (9-9) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Whitefeathersfall (IRE) 6-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden well over 2f out, ran on one pace, 4th of 7, 3 1/4l behind Garden Oasis (8-12) at Ripon 1m hcp (3) gf in Aug.