keen early, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, never on terms
slowly away, always behind
puuled hard, soon led, headed over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
chased leaders, under pressure well over 2f out, stayed on same pace approaching final furlong
held up in touch, effort over 2f out, never able to challenge
held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, never on terms
mid-division, driven and headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ran on closing stages, never reached winner
pulled hard in touch, under pressure over 3f out, lost place over 1f out
mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased leaders approaching final furlong, never a threat
held up, never dangerous
mid-division, weakened over 2f out
led early, remained prominent, led again over 3f out, driven clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly (hand timed)
Magic Circle won four times last year between May and October. He's 8lb higher than for his last success but can't be ignored. Former Godolphin inmate Winterlude has won at Lingfield and Wolverhampton this year while Cotton Club and Percy Veer have also been in good form on the all-weather over the winter. Eton Rambler made a promising reappearance behind Steve Rogers at Kempton but the interesting one is MARK HOPKINS (NAP). David Elsworth has high hopes for the four-year-old this season and he ran a cracker on only his third start here in October when just beaten by Faithful Mount.
Winterlude (IRE) 9-2 (9-6) In rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, soon switched right, ran on, 4th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Top Tug (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Apr.
Continuum 16-1 (9-2) Slow into stride towards rear, ridden 3f out, hung right over 1f out, never on terms, 11th of 17, 9 3/4l behind Arab Dawn (9-2) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Mark Hopkins 5-1 (8-11) Keen, tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, headed near finish, 2nd of 12, nk behind Faithful Mount (9-0) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Eton Rambler (USA) 20-1 (9-8) Held up on 6th, ridden 3f out, headway over 2f out, went 3rd and stayed on inside final furlong, no impression on winner, 3rd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Steve Rogers (9-8) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) pol in Apr.
Resiliency (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 11th of 15, 16l behind Heartbreak City (8-4) at York 2m hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Cotton Club (IRE) 9-1 (8-10) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never nearer, 5th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Haines (8-8) at Kempton 2m hcp (2) pol in Apr.
Magic Circle (IRE) 8-15fav (8-2) Held up, pushed along and headway 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Craggaknock (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Duchess Of Marmite (IRE) 25-1 (8-7) Steadied start, mid-division, effort over 3f out, edged right over 2f out, no impression, well beaten final furlong, 6th of 9, 17l behind Frosty Berry (8-10) at Nottingham 1m 6f lst stks (1) hvy in Apr.
Scarlet Minstrel 6-4fav (9-4) Tracked leader until over 3f out, not pace of leading pair over 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 6, 5 1/2l behind Shrewd (9-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
King Calypso 12-1 (8-12) Mid-division, headway on outer over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, lost place inside final furlong, one pace, 4th of 11, 7l behind Moonrise Landing (9-2) at Kempton 2m hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Mystery Drama 66-1 (11-1) Held up on outside, headway after 2nd, lost place when jumped right 4th, last next, well behind after 3 out, pulled up before last, at Towcester 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Rideonastar (IRE) 7-2jfav (9-6) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, ridden to challenge 2f out, every chance until no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Slunovrat (9-5) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp (5) sft in Apr.
Percy Veer 4-1 (8-11) Tracked leader until ridden over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 5th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Luv U Whatever (9-9) at Chelmsford City 1m 5f hcp (2) pol in Jan.
