tracked leading trio, edged right and weakened over 1f out
held up in last pair, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on to 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with easy winner
led, joined 3f out, kept on until headed over 1f out, no chance with easy winner and weakened into 3rd inside final furlong
took keen hold, held up in 5th, smooth headway to track leading pair 2f out, soon quickened to challenge, led over 1f out, soon pushed clear, easily
held up in touch, weakened over 2f out
chased leader, disputing lead 3f out, until over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up in last pair, driven along and beaten over 2f out
took keen hold, tracked leading pair, pushed along 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
Clive Cox took this last year and his Dunn'o has claims but MABAIT looks capable of further improvement this term and gets the vote, with Chapter And Verse rated best of the rest. Luca Cumani is another trainer who brings his horses along nicely over time and his colt progressed rapidly towards the back end of last season, suggesting he'd be one to keep on the ride side. The four-year-old won first time out last year so fitness is of little concern and our feeling is he can shrug off a 7lb rise under ideal conditions. Dunn'o is consistent and won this race last year, so must have claims off just 2lbs higher having had a spin to blow away cobwebs last time. Interestingly, he's won all three of his starts here and therefore offers a solid betting proposition, although we just prefer Cumani's charge. Chapter And Verse doesn't appeal as well-treated but he's nothing if not consistent and can once again finish close up, although Tartan Gigha is another with claims of taking third at least. He ran okay last time and should do better dropped back to a mile for a yard remaining in form. Swift Chap is plenty high enough in the weights and tends to need a run whilst General Eliott hasn't built on the promise he once showed and we are more than happy to fly the flag for Mabait.
General Eliott (IRE) 5-2fav (8-12) Disputed lead until over 4f out, pushed along 3f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Jaroslaw (8-12) at Lingfield 1m stks (3) pol in Dec.
Tartan Gigha (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Albaqaa (8-13) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gd.
Dunn'o (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) Soon led, ridden 2f out, headed and kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Beauchamp Viceroy (9-10) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Mabait 10-3 (9-1) Held up in touch, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Leicester 1m 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Oct beating Swift Chap (8-11) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Mujood 20-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 2f out, no real progress, 8th of 14, 8l behind Arthur's Edge (8-5) at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Oct.
Mount Hadley (USA) 10-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 5l behind Kidlat (8-13) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Chapter And Verse (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, effort between horses to lead well inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Highly Regal (9-0) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Swift Chap 4-1fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, 7th of 16, 2 3/4l behind Bended Knee (8-8) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
