led narrowly, driven when hard pressed over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, held towards finish
slowly into stride and early reminders, always in rear, struggling over 5f out
slowly into stride, soon tracked leaders on outside, driven over 3f out, soon ridden and no impression, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders on inside, headway to challenge over 2f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, kept on towards finish
with leader, driven 3f out, soon lost place, ridden and weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, stayed on same pace, no chance with clear pair from over 1f out
Bo Samraan has shown real battling qualities to win handicaps on testing ground at Pontefract and Catterick and is an obvious threat to all if taking to the surface. GRAZEON ROY was narrowly beaten by the prolific Gamesters Icon at Doncaster before coming here and winning impressively. This is a tougher race and he's gone up 9lb but looks one to follow. Lopes Dancer has shown his best form on Tapeta and will be having his first start here but Azari completed a course and distance hat-trick last winter and a return to that kind of form would make him a threat. Wanaasah won over the trip at Wolverhampton in August but has never run here while three-times course winner Cold Harbour is 2lb out of the handicap.
Bo Samraan (IRE) 4-5fav (9-4) Dwelt and stumbled leaving stalls, headway to track leader after 2f, led approaching 3f out, ridden and joined 2f out, just held on, won at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Oct beating Jabbaar (9-10) by shd, 6 ran.
Azari 8-1 (9-7) Chased leaders on outside, lost place 5f out, outpaced over 4f out, soon left behind, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Jedhi (9-6) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (4) gs in May.
Lopes Dancer (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, some headway over 1f out, never nearer, 6th of 14, 19 1/2l behind Bo Samraan (9-0) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Grazeon Roy 11-8fav (9-6) Held up mid-division, tracked leaders over 4f out, effort on outside over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to lead over 1f out, pushed clear final furlong, comfortably, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Oct beating Say Nothing (9-4) by 6l, 9 ran.
Wanaasah 3-1 (8-11) Led, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 6, 7 1/4l behind Brasca (9-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Cold Harbour 5-1 (9-7) Led 1f, tracked leaders, driven to lead again over 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, modest 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 9 3/4l behind Grazeon Roy (9-6) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
