chased leaders, effort well over 1f out, soon no impression
led, hard driven when headed well over 2f out, weakened final furlong
stumbled start, in touch, weakening when hung left from halfway
always prominent, led well over 2f out, hung left under pressure inside final furlong, easily
chased leaders, hard driven before halfway, stayed on under pressure final furlong, no chance with winner
Little has been in good form of late. But this is tougher than the claiming race he won over course and distance in November though he does have the beating of Aqlette. Collateral form brings BANNISTER BELL into the equation and he looks set to make the most of a slide down the weights having finished third here on his latest start. Never Easy and Theydon Thunder are both lightly-raced but the former had a couple of lengths to spare with the latter when runner-up over 7f here recently and is also preferred to Red Stripes.
Little 7-4 (8-8) Well in rear, headway 2f out, effort approaching final furlong, no impression inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Classic Seniority (9-6) at Lingfield 6f 2yo clm stks (6) pol in Dec.
Never Easy (IRE) 17-2 (9-6) Led, ridden 2f out, soon edged right, headed entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Excelling Oscar (9-1) at Southwell 7f 2yo hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec.
Aqlette 25-1 (8-6) With leader, raced freely, every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Mecado (8-9) at Kempton 7f 2yo sell stks (6) pol in Dec.
Red Stripes (USA) 14-1 (8-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 4, 21l behind Greatest Journey (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-95 (3) in Dec.
Bannister Bell (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon switched left, kept on, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Pancake Day (8-12) at Southwell 6f 2yo hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec.
Theydon Thunder 33-1 (8-10) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Excelling Oscar (9-1) at Southwell 7f 2yo hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec.