prominent, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on
prominent over 5f
always in rear
slowly into stride, behind, never nearer
held up, headway over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden out
slowly into stride, always in rear
in touch over 5f
prominent until halfway
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on one pace
slowly into stride, in rear, some headway on inside over 2f out, never dangerous
held up, always towards rear
chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace
Our three against the field are Parkview Love, Blue Empire and, the selection, Formidable Will. Formidable Will comes here seeking a straight hat-trick of wins. Much as he has been raised nine pounds for the latest of them, this lightly-raced course and distance winner looks to have more improvement in him. Parkview Love has to carry a seven-pounds penalty for his seven-furlong course win but, from a stable in form, can still go well. Blue Empire is another course and distance winner and is well-weighted based on his Turf form of the summer, so he too is respected. Of the others, Burnley Al is well-weighted on the best of his Turf form and Bridgewater Boys is well-weighted on 2004 form but, in keeping with a number of others, has a bit to prove overall. All of which returns us to the choice, which is Formidable Will.
Parkview Love (USA) 8-1 (8-11) Headway over 5f out, edged left and led over 1f out, hung right inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs beating Yorkie (8-10) by a nk, 14 ran.
Aswan (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Made all, clear 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on well, won at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol in Nov beating Shaheer (8-11) by 4l, 12 ran.
Formidable Will (FR) 2-1fav (8-6) Held up behind leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, won at Southwell 1m hcp (6) fbs in Oct beating Brave Chief (9-0) by 5l, 13 ran.
Chicken Soup 4-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Actuality (9-0) at W'hampton 7f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Nov.
Burnley Al (IRE) 7-1jt-fav (8-12) Mid-division, pushed along when hampered and stumbled well over 1f out, not recover, 13th of 15, 11l behind Orpen Wide (9-1) at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Oct.
Bridgewater Boys 11-2 (8-11) Raced centre, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, hung left and weakened final furlong, 8th of 18, 3 1/2l behind Hurricane Coast (8-9) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-70 (5) hvy in Oct.
Bavarica 14-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Monte Mayor Boy (9-2) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Nov.
Quiet Reading (USA) 13-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 14, 7l behind Active Account (10-9) at Southwell 1m amt hcp (6) fbs in Nov.
