soon led, edged right over 1f out, soon headed and rider drops reins, not quicken inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, ran on
held up in 4th, pushed along 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, never going pace to challenge
led early, tracked leader until 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, not clear run swithed left inside final furlong, stayed on same pace
This is a trappy affair and Caldra gets the pick over Prince Forever and Welsh Emperor. The selection has got some solid form and he has his optimum ground conditions. If he is fit enough to do himself justice on his seasonal reapperance then he can take plenty of beating. Prince Forever is a lightly-raced colt and he was entitled to need the run when he disappointed last time. There may be more to come from him, but there is a doubt over whether he will handle the ground so we will take him on today. Welsh Emperor will love the ground and he has gone well fresh in the past, so he is certainly one to factor in on his return from a break. Barry Hills sends Dabbers Ridge to post here and he goes on the ground and has the best of the draw so he could go well. This is wide open and the tentative vote goes to Caldra.
Welsh Emperor (IRE) 8-11fav (9-0) Made all, ridden and hung right from over 1f out, ran on, won at Leicester 7f stk (4) gs in Oct beating Babodana (9-0) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Dabbers Ridge (IRE) 9-2 (8-11) Chased clear leader, lost place over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened 1f out, last of 9, 15l behind Appalachian Trail (9-6) at Doncaster 7f stk (3) gd in Oct.
Prince Forever (IRE) 9-1 (9-6) Led far side group, well on terms, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 19th of 21, 39l behind Smokey Oakey (8-9) at Doncaster 1m hcap (2) gs in Mar.
Vanderlin (9-1) Prominent, 5th straight, one pace, 7th of 15, 6l behind Ricine (8-10) at Baden-Baden 7f Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Caldra (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind Jalmira (8-11) at Newmarket 1m lst stk (1) gd in Nov.