held up, good headway well over 3f out, led over 2 f out, clear over 1f out, eased
pushed along and soon towards rear, headway to chase leaders over 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner
held up in rear, weakened over 3f out
led early, tracked leader, behind from 7f out
prominent, weakened over 2f out
chased leader, weakened 4f out
held up mid-division, outpaced over 3f out
held up in touch, chased leaders halfway, led over 2f out, soon headed, weakened well over 1f out
held up, kept on from over 1f, out no impression
held up mid-division, tailed off over 2f out
soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Nonrunner
Jennie Candlish has her runners in good form and we will side with DIKTATORSHIP to score here, while recent winners Purely By Chance and K'Gari could both go well. The selection is no good thing, but although he is exposed over shorter than this, it may be that he can find enough improvement to win over this new trip with his wellbeing virtually assured and no problem with this surface, so he is suggested. Purely By Chance is 4lbs higher than when beating Eagle Nebula a length over a similar trip at Kempton, and now tries this surface for the first time. There is no reason why he won't act on it and he can go very well. K'Gari is another one 4lbs higher than when taking a similar contest over course and distance last time, and he should be very much on the premises. Squirtle stays well enough but usually finds a couple too good, while Blockley was very disappointing last time behind Purely By Chance, but goes well here and is on a handy-enough mark, so can't be ruled out. Diktatorship is the one for us.
Black Or Red (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside last, never able to challenge, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Purely By Chance (8-7) at Kempton 2m hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Blockley (USA) 7-2fav (9-12) In touch until lost place 5f out, driven along 3f out, no danger after, 8th of 12, 6l behind Purely By Chance (8-7) at Kempton 2m hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Bold Adventure 14-1 (8-9) Held up, headway over 5f out, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 6l behind Murcar (9-6) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Acuzio 2-1fav (10-7) Raced keenly in rear, headway over 5f out, weakened 1f out, 5th of 9, 8l behind Daryal (11-3) at Chester 1m 4f hcap (5) gf in Aug '07.
Catskill 8-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, keen hold, weakened from overe 4f out, eased from over 1f out, 14th of 16, well behind Frutti Tutti (9-12) at Ballinrobe 1m 6f hcp 47-65 in Sep.
Purely By Chance 14-1 (8-7) Always prominent, challenged on inside 2f out, ridden to lead as leader drifted left final furlong, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov beating Eagle Nebula (9-6) by 1l, 12 ran.
Dawn Storm (IRE) 28-1 (9-8) Slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along halfway, kept on, never near leaders, 5th of 10, 6l behind Order Order (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Nov.
Diktatorship (IRE) 7-1 (8-5) Tracked leader, ridden to dispute lead approaching final furlong, every chance when one pace final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Zalkani (8-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Apr.
Squirtle (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Held up mid-division, pushed along 7f out, ridden 3f out, driven to go moderate 3rd over 1f out, never dangerous, 3rd of 7, 7l behind K'gari (8-6) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Dance Gdansk (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Held up in touch, wide, headway to chase leader 3f out, ridden, weakened 2f out, 5th of 13, 19l behind Court Princess (10-13) at Lingfield 2m Amateur Handicap (0-60) (3yo+) (6) pol.
K'Gari (USA) 14-1 (8-6) Made all, 4 lengths clear 7f out, ridden 2f out, driven and edged left inside final furlong, stayed on gamely, won at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov beating Baltimore Patriot (10-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Paint The Town Red 10-1 (8-13) Held up, headway on outer over 1f out, kept on, 4th of 13, 3l behind Private Equity (8-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Shanavaz 22-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride in rear, ridden over 2f out, never nearer, 6th of 12, 11l behind King Red (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.