tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on final furlong
chased leaders 2f, soon behind, lost touch final 2f
tracked leaders, led 3f out, ridden over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, held on under pressure final furlong
awkwardly away, always behind
in touch on outside, ridden 2f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened final furlong
soon led, headed 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression final furlong
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, soon lost place, weakened 1f out
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression
behind, outpaced 3f out, never near leaders
A winner over 7f here last time and runner-up in this race last year, Nightjar has yet to win over a mile. TRANS SONIC finished behind the latter a fortnight ago but David O'Meara's charge is a three-time winner over C&D and the return to this trip should bring out the best in him - he gets the vote. Lowther would be a strong fancy if he had not ran below par on his only previous start on Fibresand, but Hidden Glory has won on the surface and could figure. Bencoolen makes most appeal of the Nicholls trio, but last year's winner Reve De Nuit has been below par of late.
Lowther 5-1 (8-10) In touch, ridden over 1f out, led briefly inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 7, nk behind Final Drive (8-10) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Nightjar (USA) 2-1fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, soon ridden, strongly pressed from over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, held on near finish, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-95 (3) fbs in Dec beating Docofthebay (9-7) by hd, 10 ran.
Rugell (ARG) 8-1 (9-9) Soon led, ridden over 1f out, stayed on strongly, eased close home, won at Ffos Las 1m 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Sep beating Plato (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Reve De Nuit (USA) 40-1 (9-1) Held up, ridden 3f out, not trouble leaders, 9th of 16, 11l behind Lost In The Moment (8-13) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Oct.
Bencoolen (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Held up in touch, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 16, 3/4l behind Psychic Ability (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Oct.
Webbow (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden to challenge 1 1/2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Dundalk 7f 3yo stks pol in Dec beating Anam Chara (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Trans Sonic 25-1 (8-8) Prominent, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Nightjar (9-1) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-95 (3) fbs in Dec.
Thunderstruck 28-1 (8-4) Led, set strong pace and soon clear, headed over 2f out, gradually weakened, 8th of 11, 19l behind Final Drive (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Hidden Glory 11-2 (8-2) In touch in rear, ridden over 1f out, edged right and stayed on towards finish, 4th of 6, 3/4l behind Island Sunset (8-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Rasselas (IRE) 6-1 (8-11) Raced wide, prominent, chased winner 6f out, ridden 3f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Amethyst Dawn (8-9) at Musselburgh 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gs in Oct.
Audemar (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Keen tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 4l behind Final Drive (8-10) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Ours (IRE) 20-1 (9-6) Very slowly away, behind until kept on final furlong, never a factor, 4th of 10, 12l behind Nazreef (9-7) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Dec.
