led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
close up in rear, ridden 2f out, no impression
tracked leader, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on
raced wide tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, no impression towards finish
dwelt close up, pushed along halfway, ridden and headway inside final furlong, kept on one pace
After his maiden victory at Newcastle, Mont Kiara was sent to France for a Listed contest but finished last on rain-softened ground. El Astronaute had a cracking first campaign winning three of his last four including a tough nursery at Chester for which a 4lb rise looks lenient. Excessable made a winning debut at Ripon though that was on quick ground. He competed at a much higher level subsequently but didn't impress on his last two starts. Reflektor scored on soft ground at Leicester in October and led for a long way over an extra furlong at Pontefract on his return while Midnight Malibu won two of her last four though both on much quicker ground than she'll face here. CELEBRATION shot up the weights after landing a Sandown nursery but continued to perform with credit and can return to winning ways though Richard Fahey warns he's still a bit backward in his coat. Ravenhoe didn't fulfil early potential but has dropped in the weights accordingly and shouldn't be dismissed.
El Astronaute (IRE) 8-1 (8-7) Prominent, every chance from over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Chester 5f (2) gs in Sep beating Sixties Sue (8-11) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Excessable 25-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 15, 11 1/2l behind Quiet Reflection (8-12) at Ayr 5f lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Reflektor (IRE) 13-2 (8-10) Led, hard driven over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Stamp Hill (8-8) at Pontefract 6f hcp (3) hvy in Apr.
Midnight Malibu (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Rosina (9-5) at Beverley 5f (3) gd in Aug.
Celebration 3-1cfav (8-13) Prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 6, nk behind Ample (9-2) at Nottingham 5f (4) sft in Oct.
Ravenhoe (IRE) 3-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, outpaced before halfway, stayed on inside final furlong, never a threat, 4th of 7, 5l behind Just That Lord (8-9) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Mont Kiara (FR) 33-1 (9-2) last of 7, 15 1/2l behind Donjuan Triumphant (9-2) at Maisons-Laffitte 6f Grp 2 stks (1) sft in Oct.