led, ridden over 2f out, headed 2f out, soon beaten
dwelt and behind, headway on inner over 2f out, brought right over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
in touch, ridden along halfway, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden along halfway, one pace until weakened final furlong
held up, headway over 1f out, edged left and one pace final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2f out, ran on final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
A few in with chances here include Ours, King's Ransom, Cadwell and Astroangel but the tentative selection is Moonstreaker. Richard Whitaker's gelding won over c&d this time last year and is back on the same mark here. Nicely pitched from stall two, he has a good recent run to boost confidence and he just gets the nod. Ours is 2lb higher than when scoring at Kempton in October and is another going well, so he should be on the premises over a trip that suits. Astroangel probably needs the handicapper to relent before winning again, and King's Ransom, who caught a tartar in Confidentiality last time, looks to be more effective over a bit further than this. Cadwell has the pedigree to act well over this trip if he handles this surface on his first try, but Moonstreaker can just shade an open contest.
Rebel Pearl (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Chased leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 10th of 14, 14l behind Spinning (8-13) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Oct.
Moonstreaker 15-2 (9-1) Prominent, ridden over 3f out, driven and one pace final 2f, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Circus Polka (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol in Nov.
Time To Regret 16-1 (8-10) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 13l behind Confidentiality (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Astroangel 12-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon outpaced, stayed on again final furlong, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Cabourg (8-9) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Ours (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Held up towards rear, headway on inside well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, edged right towards finish, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Arthur's Edge (8-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Cadwell 10-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed 1f out, not pace of winner, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Rigat (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol.
Dado Mush 20-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 12th of 14, 10l behind Ceris Star (8-11) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Nov.
Gifted Flame 16-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, pulled hard towards rear, no danger when not clear run on inside well over 1f out, 11th of 13, 13l behind Arctic Desert (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol.
King's Ransom 14-1 (9-2) Mid-division, chased leaders 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, soon outpaced, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Confidentiality (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.