led after 1st until after next, chased leaders, weakened before 7th, tailed off
held up, headway approaching 7th, went modest 3rd approaching 2 out, no chance with leading duo
led after 2nd until blundered and headed 6th, weakened rapidly next, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
always behind, reminders and struggling before 7th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, 2nd after 3 out, every chance last, rallied briefly run-in, no extra towards finish
raced wide, always behind, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
raced wide, chased leaders, led 3 out, joined and hit last, pressed run-in, found extra towards finish
held up, headway approaching 7th, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, led 6th until 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd soon after, chased leading pair, weakened before next
raced wide, led until after 1st, chased leaders, pushed along before 7th, plugged on in 4th from 2 out
chased leaders, lost place before 6th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
Duke's Affair has won two of his three starts since returning from injury and has been found another good opportunity, though the handicapper has had his say. VERY INTENSE is still a maiden but had been fairly consistent prior to his second over 3m at Taunton. Dropping back in distance might help him finally open his account as this is a modest contest with Taste The Wine usually worth opposing and Tenby Jewel and Spin Cast only platers. The lack of a recent run is a concern for Shot In The Dark and Fintan.
Shot In The Dark (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Close up, ridden before last, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 26l behind Absolutlyfantastic (11-10) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Thepartysover 20-1 (11-1) Behind, mistake 11th, weakened from 13th, 7th of 10, dist behind Sail And Return (11-9) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Fintan 50-1 (10-0) Held up in last pair, mistake and struggling in rear 6th, blundered last, 9th of 10, 25 1/4l behind Cool Sky (10-12) at Plumpton 2m hcp (3) gf in Sep.
Taste The Wine (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, last of 9, 31l behind Solstice Star (11-6) at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Very Intense (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway before 8th, went 2nd after 3 out, every chance 2 out, soon hung right, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Oscar Jane (10-10) at Taunton 3m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Spin Cast 14-1 (11-11) Mid-division, lost place before 3 out, soon behind, 9th of 11, 23 1/4l behind Bulletproof (10-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Duke's Affair 9-4fav (10-11) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, led 7th, pressed 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on, in command towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Icanmotor (10-0) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Positive Vibes 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, struggling before 7th, well behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Tenby Jewel (IRE) 5-1fav (10-5) Tracked winner until 2nd, remained handy, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 9, 14 3/4l behind Solstice Star (11-6) at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Sun Quest 20-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place before 5th, plugged on approaching last, no chance, 5th of 11, 29l behind Vexillum (11-4) at Stratford 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Watchmetail (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Took keen hold in touch, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, no chance after, 7th of 9, 6 3/4l behind Dragon City (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
