off the pace in last pair, never on terms
tracked leaders, hung left and weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, mid-division, headway out wide chasing leaders over 1f out, staying on when hampered by winner inside final furlong, rallied and went 3rd close home
tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd over 8f out, pushed along over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, lost 2nd inside final furlong, plugged on
tracked leader, led 9f out, pushed along and headed 2f out, weakened soon after
steadied and switched left start, held up towards rear, good headway out wide over 1f out, strong challenge and hung left inside final furlong, led post
slowly into stride, never closer than mid-division, tailed off
bit keen, led 2f, tracked leader until settled in 3rd over 8f out, headway between horses over 2f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, strongly pressed inside final furlong, headed post
wore hood to post and unseated rider before start, chased leaders out wide, hung right on paddock bend and lost place, mid-division, headway out wide chasing leaders 6f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, forced dead heat for 3rd post
NonRunner
Marie Laveau comes out best at the weights of those with a handicap rating though steps up in trip along with Chepstow runner-up Sonnet Star. Knights Affair wasn’t at his best on soft ground last time while Mass Consumption and Lucky Protector are both fitted with headgear for this. BARREL AGED never looked like catching the winner when second at Kempton on his debut back in January but this won’t take much winning and he gets a speculative vote.
Frites 125-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear on outside, headway 10f out, ridden 5f out, lost place 4f out, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Little Peter (11-2) at Worcester 2m (5) gd in Sep.
Barrel Aged 9-1 (9-7) Behind, pushed along and headway out wide over 2f out, soon ridden, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 6l behind French Invasion (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Jan.
Knights Affair 14-1 (9-3) Steadied start, held up and always in rear, never a factor, 7th of 10, 18 1/4l behind Ala Kaifi (9-8) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Sep.
A Poet's Secret 125-1 (9-7) Raced keenly, tracked leader until pushed along over 2f out, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, lost remote 5th close home, 6th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Let Life Happen (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f mdn stks (4) pol in Sep.
Mass Consumption (IRE) 9-2 (9-6) Raced wide close up, pushed along over 4f out, ridden 3f out, every chance 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Spantik (10-3) at Ripon 2m hcp (6) gd in Aug.
Sir Terence Hadley 40-1 (9-4) Always in rear, pushed along and struggling after halfway, never a factor, 7th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Al Anoud (9-6) at Salisbury 1m 2f stks (4) gf in Sep.
National Health (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Off the pace in last pair, lost touch before 4 out, tailed off when hit 2 out, pulled up before the last, at Uttoxeter 2m (4) gd in Jul.
Tennessee Blaze 250-1 (8-13) Close up, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 15 1/2l behind Prosper Legend (8-13) at Catterick 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gf in May.
Marie Laveau 5-1 (9-8) Held up behind leaders, pushed along over 3f out, effort and switched left inside 2f out, switched left again over 1f out, stayed on, unable to challenge, 3rd of 6, 1l behind Azahara Palace (9-8) at Chepstow 1m hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Sonnet Star 9-2 (9-0) Chased leaders, closed over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, held close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Brora Breeze (9-0) at Chepstow 1m 2f fll stks (5) gd in Sep.
Lucky Protector (IRE) 3-1 (9-7) Started slowly, off the pace towards rear, pushed along 3f out, modest 3rd over 1f out, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 5, 12 3/4l behind Evening Story (9-2) at Pontefract 1m stks (4) gf in Aug.
