slowly into stride, always towards rear
chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, stayed on to lead final strides
slowly into stride, green in rear, ridden over 1f out, never on terms
raced keenly, soon held up in mid-division, headway and edged left over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, finished well, not quite get up
led, ridden over 1f out, stayed on, headed last strides
chased leaders on outside, pushed along over 3f out, weakened well over 2f out
It could pay to stick with RED VERDON given he was beaten only a nose over track and trip on his debut despite starting at 50/1. Normal progress can see Ed Dunlop's charge confirm running with third-placed Vizier and the well-beaten Cry Wolf and open his account. The likes of Gimlet, Kalkrand and Regal Monarch may all improve past the more-exposed Phantom Flipper while the US-bred Town's History is preferred to Louve Reine of the newcomers.
Boychick (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Always towards rear, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 16, 26 1/4l behind Roundsman (9-5) at Redcar 7f mdn stks (5) sft in Nov.
Cry Wolf 10-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Coherent (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Gimlet 25-1 (9-5) Soon led, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Kummiya (9-5) at Lingfield 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Kalkrand (IRE) 3-1fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 5 3/4l behind Baydar (9-5) at Lingfield 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Phantom Flipper 3-1fav (9-0) Always last, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened 2f out, last of 3, 12l behind Taqwaa (9-0) at Chepstow 1m mdn stks (4) sft in Aug.
Red Verdon (USA) 50-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, held up and behind, headway on outside over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, finished well, just failed, 2nd of 10, shd behind Coherent (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
The Otmoor Poet Yeats gelding out of Kristalette.
Town's History (USA) Hard Spun colt out of Smooth Charmer.
Vizier 15-2 (9-5) Chased leaders, edged left over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong until one pace towards finish, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Coherent (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Cool It 14-1 (8-8) Slowly away outpaced, last of 10, 21 1/4l behind Davey Boy (9-5) at Southwell 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Louve Reine (FR) King's Best filly out of Louve Solitaire.
Chewy Round Town (IRE) Roderic O'connor colt out of Happy Land.
Regal Monarch 9-2fav (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 9 1/2l behind Melfit (9-5) at Southwell 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
