prominent 2f, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
slow into stride, soon close up, pushed along and lost place over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure entering final furlong, stayed on to lead towards finish
raced wide close up, ridden and lost place halfway, tailed off
led, ridden 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace
switched left soon after start, close up in rear, headway to track leaders 3f out, shaken up to lead inside final furlong, soon ridden and found little, headed towards finish
prominent 2f, tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed inside final furlong, no extra
Epitaph has placed over longer trips at this venue in the past and Medici Oro went close over track and trip last month only to prove a big disappointment at last week’s meeting here. Several represent yards with impressive strike rates on this surface including Beautiful Artist and Far Dawn but AIYA is just preferred of that group. Andrew Balding’s colt finished fourth at Lingfield on his latest outing and the form looks solid enough with the winner having subsequently gone in again.
Akkadian Empire 25-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Level Of Intensity (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) gs in Oct.
Epitaph (IRE) 11-1 (8-7) Chased leader, pushed along over 4f out, riden over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 9, 5 3/4l behind Snowy Winter (9-5) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Aiya (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Held up, pushed along and headway approaching final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Rusper (9-2) at Lingfield 1m stks (5) pol in Nov.
Beautiful Artist (USA) 11-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on, went 4th close home, no threat to leaders, 4th of 11, 5l behind Cristal Pallas Cat (8-9) at Kempton 7f (5) pol in Dec.
Going Native 6-1 (9-5) Held up off the pace towards rear, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went never nearer 4th last strides, 4th of 12, 5 1/4l behind Sardenya (9-7) at Lingfield 7f fll (5) pol in Oct.
Far Dawn 8-1 (8-13) In touch in mid-division, closed over 2f out, going well when not much room and stumbled over 1f out, 4th final furlong, no extra inside final 50 yards, 4th of 14, 5 1/2l behind Bold Reason (9-9) at Newcastle 1m (5) pol in Dec.
Medici Oro 7-2 (9-5) Prominent, led over 4f, ridden and headed 3f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 12l behind Couldn't Could She (9-0) at Southwell 1m (6) pol in Dec.