held up, pushed along and progress on outside over 3f out, came wide straight, ridden and weakened well over 1f out
dwelt, held up and behind, headway 3f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, ran on well
disputed lead until 3f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and beaten 2f out
broke well, disputed lead until definite advantage 3f out, hard ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up in rear, switched right from inside just over 1f out, never near leaders
held up, niggled along and headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, beaten 1f out
prominent, niggled along over 4f out, weakened 3f out
close up on inside, ridden and hung left just over 2f out, soon weakened and eased
Course regular Break The Silence can be relied on to run his race though usually finds at least one too good. He finished ahead of Alpha Tauri when second here last time while Oblate has the beating of Mr Strutter on an earlier placed effort on the Fibresand though never recovered from a slow start last time. First Excel has bits of form over shorter trips at the track but TAGUR was beaten only a neck by Jazz Hands over course and distance last month having slipped down the weights and Kevin Ryan’s charge can go one better with an apprentice taking 7lb off his back today.
First Excel 5-1 (9-0) Led, pushed along and joined over 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, weakened inside final furlong, just held on to 3rd, 3rd of 7, 5 1/4l behind Queen Of Kalahari (9-0) at Southwell 6f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Oblate 6-1 (9-5) Slowly away headway and close up halfway, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 14l behind Clipsham Tiger (9-7) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Tagur (IRE) 14-1 (8-8) Led, ridden when hard pressed over 2f out, headed narrowly over 1f out, kept on, just held, 2nd of 6, nk behind Jazz Hands (8-7) at Southwell 1m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Mr Strutter (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) In rear, switched right 3f out, headway 2f out, ridden to chase winner approaching final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind High Fort (8-9) at Newcastle 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Break The Silence 13-8fav (9-0) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final 2f, every chance over 1f out, kept on, held inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Bee Machine (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Alpha Tauri (USA) 12-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, weakened and eased final furlong, 10th of 12, 22 1/2l behind Bee Machine (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Voice of A Leader (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Steadied start, held up towards rear, never on terms, 8th of 10, 12 3/4l behind Arlecchino's Arc (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Tavener 16-1 (9-0) Slowly away always towards rear, weakened 2f out, last of 11, 6 1/2l behind Griggy (9-6) at Lingfield 6f stks (6) pol in Dec.
Amber Rock (USA) 13-2 (8-6) Keen close up, pushed along 3f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 14, 9 1/2l behind High Fort (8-9) at Newcastle 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.