held up, headway travelling strongly 3 out, ridden to challenge before 2 out, sustained duel with leader, took lead after last, asserted final 100 yards
led, ridden when challenged before 2 out, stayed on gamely in sustained duel, headed after last, kept on, worn down final 100 yards
tracked leader, losing place and ridden after 3 out, plugged on one pace, finished tailed off
TIME TO TINKER has to concede weight to both rivals but looks an improved performer this season after comfortably accounting for Honneur D'Ajonc at Taunton when giving weight away. That was a useful performance as there appeared to be more in the locker and he can follow up here on ground he clearly enjoys. Not that Royal Pretender is anything other than a dangerous opponent after landing his last two runs over timber with plenty to spare. His overall profile is not quite as strong as that of the Nicholls topweight though. Thahab Ifraj is a course and distance winner who is not a rank outsider but seems to have gone off the boil a little on recent runs.
Time To Tinker (IRE) 5-4 (11-5) Handy, not fluent 1st, pressed leader 3 out, led before 2 out, hung left 2 out, ridden and wandered run-in, stayed on well, won going away, won at Taunton 2m (4) gf in Oct beating Honneur D'Ajonc (11-4) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Royal Pretender (FR) 2-9fav (11-5) Made all, not fluent 9th, hit 3 out, pushed along 2 out, went clear approaching last, kept on well flat, comfortably, won at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov beating One For The Wall (10-12) by 12l, 6 ran.
Thahab Ifraj (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Held up in rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon ridden and struggling, kept on again run-in, 5th of 8, 10 1/2l behind Kensington Art (11-8) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
