prominent, ridden over 2f out, led 1f out, ran on
led, ridden over 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra towards finish
pulled hard, always behind
mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
started slowly, behind, headway 4f out, ridden over 2f out, edged left 1f out, kept on
slowly into stride, soon in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, lost place over 3f out, soon behind
held up, ridden and headway well over 1f out, ran on but not clear run towards finish
dwelt, raced wide, held up and keen, headway 6f out, lost place over 2f out, kept on final furlong
held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, soon hung left, ran on, not reach winner
prominent, ridden over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, switched right 1f out, stayed on towards finish
Deeper In Debt, Blue Patrick and Daring Affair look the ones to concentrate on in a wide open finale and the vote is given to Blue Patrick. The selection was a fair second behind Byron Bay l;ast time out. That form has since been franked and off the same mark here he will be hard to beat Deeper In Debt rates the main danger as he won well last time out when beating Hurricane Coast. However he has a penalty for that win and that may just find him out. Daring Affair is game and consistent and is sure to run well off his light weight with his stable in top form but he is one paced in a finish and again he looks vulnerable for that reason. Of the remainder Scottish River looks handily weighted on his best form while Monash ;Lad is from a shrewd yard and is another to note in the market but for the winner we return to Blue Patrick.
Deeper In Debt 10-1 (9-1) Always prominent, chased leader 6f out, led 2f out, ridden, kept on well final furlong, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec beating Hurricane Coast (8-10) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Hurricane Coast 7-1 (8-4) Led, headed just over 2f out, weakened quickly, 7th of 10, 11l behind Wessex (9-2) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Blue Patrick 5-1 (9-2) Prominent, led well over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 14, nk behind Byron Bay (9-1) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Dec.
Scottish River (USA) 7-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, kept on same pace, 5th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Night Storm (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Monash Lad (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) Chased leader, led after 2f, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Daring Affair (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 2f app hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Daring Affair 9-2jt-fav (9-3) Chased leaders, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 13, nk behind Connotation (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f fll hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Ever Cheerful 11-2 (9-0) In touch, headway over 1f out, ran on under pressure final furlong to lead close home, won at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-75 (5) std beating Law Maker (8-10) by 1l, 10 ran.
Stoic Leader (IRE) 11-2fav (9-1) Made virtually all, hard ridden final furlong, kept on well near finish, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-70 (5) std beating Cherokee Nation (9-1) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
