mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, one pace final furlong
always towards rear
held up, ridden and headway from over 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd entering final furlong, no further impression on leading pair
tracked winner, led 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra
mid-division until weakened over 1f out
always towards rear
led, ridden and headed 2f out, rallied gamely to lead inside final furlong, driven out
prominent, ridden over 2f out, kept same pace
towards rear, ridden over 3f out, some late progress, never dangerous
chased leaders until weakened 3f out
Nonrunner
A cracking card is rounded off with a class two handicap over a mile, which looks wide open, but from a shortlist of LIGHT FROM MARS, Decameron and Tartan Gigha we'll side with the first named. The Millman runner won a pipe-opener at Windsor earlier in the month to get him ready for this race; he's one of only two course and distance winners in the field, the other being Istaphan. If Decameron wins it'll mean the race going to Sir Michael Stoute for the third time in four years. He's not been able to follow up his success when losing his maiden tag at York last summer; last seen well down the field at Lingfield in December, this step back up in trip is a positive. Tartan Gigha was second last time out at Kempton, in what was probably his toughest assignment to date. The Johnston stable's in fine form, and it wouldn't be a great surprise to see him improve enough to land this. Favourites don't have a good record in this race, with none of the last ten winners having that status. It's an interesting trend, but our preference is for Light From Mars.
Jack Dawkins (USA) 13-8 (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, unable to quicken over 1f out, slightly hampered inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Orchard Supreme (9-0) at Great Leighs 1m 1f 3yo stks (3) pol in Nov.
Isphahan 4-1 (8-3) Held up mid-division, headway halfway, led over 2f out, soon challenged, held on well under pressure, won at Ascot 1m hcap (2) gd in Sep beating Curzon Prince (8-12) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Ellemujie 25-1 (8-8) Held up, headway 4f out, switched right over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 18, 4l behind Lucky Dance (8-6) at Newmarket 1m hcap (2) gs in Nov.
Novikov 10-1 (9-2) Made virtually all, ridden over 2f out, joined well over 1f out, stayed on gamely towards finish, won at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcap (3) gd in Sep beating Dark Prospect (8-4) by hd, 11 ran.
Stevie Thunder 8-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Relative Order (9-7) at Newmarket 7f 3yo hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Light From Mars 7-1 (8-13) Tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden, wandered left and right over 1f out, stayed on gamely final furlong, ran on strongly, driven out, won at Windsor 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd beating The Galloping Shoe (8-10) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Cape Hawk (IRE) 4-1fav (9-6) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 5l behind Mahadee (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Resurge (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, soon ridden and hung right, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Hall Hee (8-11) at Great Leighs 1m hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Dunn'o (IRE) 7-2fav (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 12, 10l behind Unbreak My Heart (9-4) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Decameron (USA) 9-4fav (8-8) Held up, driven and outpaced 2f out, beaten after, 6th of 9, 6l behind Bazroy (8-9) at Lingfield 7f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Tartan Gigha (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, effort 2f out, pressed leader and every chance 1f out, kept on to take 2nd near finish, not pace of winner, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Dubai Dynamo (8-11) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Mut'ab (USA) 33-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and effort over 2f out, soon not run on, 9th of 11, 6l behind Secret Night (8-10) at Lingfield 7f hcp (0-90) (3) pol.
Quiet Elegance 40-1 (8-11) Held up behind, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 11th of 13, 13l behind Prime Defender (9-2) at Doncaster 6f Listed stks (1) gf in Mar.
Multakka (IRE) 9-4fav (8-11) Mid-division, ridden on inside 3f out, kept on to chase leaders and faded inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 6l behind Commander Cave (9-5) at Kempton 1m hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Pride of Nation (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Held up in touch, not much room over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 18, 10l behind Lucky Dance (8-6) at Newmarket 1m hcap (2) gs in Nov.
