prominent, driven to challenge over 2f out, soon every chance, kept on same pace final furlong
pulled hard tracking leaders, weakened over 2f out
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, all out
outpaced, some late headway, never on terms
slowly into stride, outpaced in rear, headway over 1f out, nearest finish
in touch, every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
outpaced in rear, never dangerous
led until over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on well
slowly into stride, chased leaders, effort over 1f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, lost place before halfway
Ace Master scored at Nottingham in October but has to race off a much higher mark on the all-weather. Ray of Joy has slipped down the weights since finishing fourth over track and trip earlier this year and she could figure along with Burnhope. The latter makes more appeal than Lexi's Hero on this surface while Mount Hollow is back on a winning mark and has scored over track and trip before. So has MASAI MOON, returning from a lay-off but 14lb lower than when winning here last year with Shelley Birkett's claim taken into account. Rod Millman's charge gets the vote.
Ace Master 8-1 (9-4) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 9th of 12, 10l behind Eastern Dragon (8-8) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Oil Strike 7-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, faded final furlong, 6th of 7, 4l behind Royal Bajan (9-2) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Mappin Time (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Raced wide towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders, 9th of 12, 9l behind Athenian (9-7) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Mount Hollow 10-1 (8-13) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, never nearer, 8th of 13, 6l behind Discussiontofollow (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Red Art (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Pushed along halfway, raced wide and always towards rear, 12th of 14, 8l behind Tasrih (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Point North (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Chased leaders over 3f, 7th of 9, 6l behind Sharaarah (9-2) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Nov.
Italian Tom (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Close up, weakening when short of room over 1f out, 10th of 11, 6l behind Jungle Bay (9-7) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Dreaming Of Rubies 20-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 13, 15l behind Bronze Beau (9-3) at Beverley 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Aug.
Lexi's Hero (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Soon led, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Discussiontofollow (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Burnhope 10-1 (8-13) Took keen hold chasing leaders, hampered on inside 5f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd final strides, never going pace to reach winner, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Bapak Bangsawan (9-6) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Ray of Joy 9-1 (9-5) Held up in mid-division, headway on outside 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 3rd in closing stages, not pace to reach winner, 3rd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Bapak Bangsawan (9-6) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Masai Moon 9-1 (9-0) Slow into stride outpaced, ridden and headway when switched right over 1f out, kept on towards finish, never nearer, 4th of 9, 4l behind Caldercruix (9-3) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Mar.
