chased leader, led after 2nd until next, chased leader until after 3 out, soon ridden and weakened quickly, tailed off
led until after 2nd, led again next until pushed along turning in, no impression when lost 2nd 2 out, weakene din 3rd
tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd and awkward 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, led turning in, soon shaken up and clear, stayed on strongly
raced keenly in last pair, some headway out wide before 3 out, soon pushed along, ridden and weakened turning in
raced keenly, ridden held up in 6th, ridden and no impression in 4th before 2 out
Sonning was more than five lengths behind AUCUNRISQUE (NAP) when third at Plumpton last month. He is only 3lb better off here and the latter improved again to score at that track at the start of the month when beating a subsequent winner by an easy seven lengths. Knickerbockerglory took a big step forward when making all at Taunton. He has to give the selection 5lb but looks a threat. Gloire D'athon is having a first run since August having switched stables but Magistrato has his sights lowered and Essential Jaco hasn’t done a lot wrong, though may not be suited by a drop in distance.
Gloire D'Athon (FR) 9-2 (12-0) Tracked leaders, on terms 4th, headed 8th, 3rd 4 out, ridden and no extra from next, last of 6, 36 1/2l behind Embittered (12-0) at Killarney 2m 1f gd in Aug.
Knickerbockerglory (IRE) 8-11fav (11-6) Raced wide, made all, came well clear travelling strongly before 2 out, unchallenged, won at Taunton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan beating Moveit Like Minnie (11-6) by 15l, 13 ran.
Essential Jaco (GER) 5-6fav (11-8) Tracked leaders in 4th on inside, 3rd before 3 out, jinked left home turn, went 2nd on inside and wandered both ways 2 out, hung left after, chance last, hung badly left looked awkward and no extra run-in, 2nd of 8, 4l behind World Of Dreams (11-8) at Plumpton 2m 5f (3) sft in Jan.
Aucunrisque (FR) 5-6fav (11-5) Jumped slickly, made all, went clear before 2 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 2m (4) sft in Jan beating Mark Of Gold (11-5) by 7l, 9 ran.
Magistrato (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along and chased leaders 3 out, ridden and no impression from 2 out, 5th of 11, 17l behind Porticello (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Sonning (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Keen, close up, went 2nd at 5th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed at last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Stream Of Stars (12-1) at Plumpton 2m (4) gs in Dec.
