soon led, driven over 2f out, headed and weakened inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, took keen hold, not clear run and lost place over 2f out, hanging left when switched right over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish
chased leaders, closed 3f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, closed 3f out, no impression inside final furlong
always in rear
led early, prominent, driven over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong
prominent, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, weakening when short of room over 2f out
held up in rear, headway and switched right over 1f out, went 2nd well inside final furlong, ran on, not trouble winner
held up rear of mid-division, headway 2f out, no impression final furlong
held up towards rear, headway on inside over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon clear
NonRunner
Bora Bora looks best of the Appleby pair, having delivered two commendable efforts at this venue since joining his new yard this year and should make a good fist of defying topwweight. His stable companion, Motawaafeq, is not discounted but is also far from easy to catch right. Brains has been brought along steadily in five starts since joining John Butler, but his latest run when a close-up fifth at this track suggested he's coming to the boil and is well worth a place on the shortlist. Kenilworth King has to be of interest if putting his best foot forward but CLOCH NUA arrives on the back of a sequence of really good efforts at this level and the course and distance winner still looks to inhabit a feasible mark. Super Den is a danger if repeating the level of a significantly improved effort latest.
Bora Bora 3-1 (9-10) Took keen hold, held up behind leaders, shaken up over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed final 110yds, kept on, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Visibility (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Super Den 4-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, pushed along 2f out, headway entering final furlong, ran on to lead close home, won at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Nov beating Wadacre Grace (9-9) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Raqraaq (USA) 3-1 (9-12) Held up, wide and headway 2f out, soon every chance, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Lelabad (9-6) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Motawaafeq (FR) 10-1 (9-12) Led, ridden 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, stayed on one pace, 5th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Super Den (9-9) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Mr Trick (IRE) 28-1 (10-1) Always towards rear, never a factor, 12th of 13, 9l behind Baby Steps (10-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Surprise Picture (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 6th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Revolutionise (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Giovanni Baglione (IRE) 50-1 (9-6) Always towards rear, 13th of 14, 5 1/4l behind Ring of Light (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Cloch Nua 5-4fav (9-9) Dwelt, raced wide in touch, headway entering final 2f, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, no impression close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind Wholelotafun (9-8) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Kenilworth King (USA) 7-1 (9-10) Raced keenly tracking leaders, headway out wide 2f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden to lead entering final furlong, headed towards finish, no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Mafia Power (10-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Dream Harder (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) In rear, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Overstate (9-1) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Brains (IRE) 3-1fav (9-6) Chased leaders on inside, unable to quicken and hung left over 1f out, kept on between horses towards finish, not pace to threaten, 5th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Crownthorpe (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
