took keen hold, held up in rear, headway on wide outside 2f out, never reached leaders
held up in rear, driven along 3f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, not reached leaders
sweating, held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, soon pressing leader, ridden to dispute 2nd inside final furlong, held near finish
held up towards rear, keeping on at one pace when not clear run just inside final 2f
led, ridden and hard pressed from 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed pressing winner, held near finish
tracked leaders, went 2nd 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on under pressure
mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
keen hold tracking leaders, effort over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, finished well
keen hold, held up in mid-division, not clear run and hampered on rail 2f out, no chance after
tracked leader to 2f out, weakened over 1f out
soon driven along to chase leaders, hard ridden 2f out, soon weakened
The vote here goes to Personify ahead of Cusoon and Nanton. Personify looked a little unlucky when not beaten far here over a slightly longer trip last time and can prove the point by running well today. Cusoon, who also looked unlucky, and Fabrian, are closely weighted with him based on the form of that race, so can both go well too. Nanton has looked of late as though he might be getting himself together, and he did win at this time last year, so can go well, while it would not entirely be a surprise to see Farewell Gift run well from his current rating. Logsdail can also go well from his current mark (although he was entered to run at Haydock on Thursday, but is more likely to come here, we feel), Takes Tutu is, on balance, opposable, and a penalty will not make life easy for Border Edge following his Salisbury success. In any case, Christmas Truce is weighted to get revenge based on that run and, racing in first-time cheekpieces - headgear has helped in the past - he could well go well. Overall, though, we will stick with Personify.
Samuel Charles 14-1 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden 4f out, hung left 2f out, kept on but not reach leaders, 6th of 14, 5l behind Bee Stinger (9-6) at Brighton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) frm in Aug.
Cusoon 9-2 (9-12) Held up towards rear, headway from 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken near finish, 4th of 8, 1/2l behind South O'The Border (9-13) at Sandown 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Aug.
Nanton (USA) 9-1 (9-2) Held up, headway 3f out, chasing winner when badly hampered just inside final furlong, soon switched left and kept on, not recover, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Envision (9-6) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Aug.
Personify 11-2 (9-5) Chased leaders, pressed winner 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 8, shd behind South O'The Border (9-13) at Sandown 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Aug.
Farewell Gift 10-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Waterside (9-5) at Goodwood 1m hcap (4) gd in Jun.
Border Edge 5-1fav (8-13) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, ran on well from over 1f out, led 1f out, hard ridden and ran on final furlong, won at Salisbury 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug beating Christmas Truce (8-13) by a nk, 12 ran.
Christmas Truce (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden over 2f out, switched left and ran on from 1f out, nearest finish, 2nd of 12, nk behind Border Edge (8-13) at Salisbury 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug.
Logsdail 5-2fav (9-12) In touch, effort and headway on inside 2f out, hampered over 1f out, not recover, 9th of 10, 5l behind Taranaki (8-10) at Goodwood 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Aug.
