soon led, ridden and headed 1f out, not quicken
chased leaders, switched right approaching final furlong, led towards finish, readily
led early, chased leader, ridden to lead 1f out, headed towards finish
took keen hold, soon in touch, ridden 1f out, one pace
held up, headway 3f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
dwelt, held up, ridden 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up in rear, ridden 1f out, ran on to take 4th close home
Not many horses are able to defy a twelve pound penalty but RIVER KIROV is given the vote to do so with both War And Peace and Figaro Flyer worth noting. The selection has won handicaps at both Lingfield and Kempton in good style and connections are keen to try and win another before the handicapper has a chance to reassess his form. It will prove to be a tough task to win with a double penalty and it usually proves to be an impossible one but in the context of this race he looks good enough to overcome it. War And Peace is winless in nine starts but he has shown decent place for in the process. He has come close to winning off his current mark and can once again be in the shake up. Figaro Flyer won off a mark of 63 during the summer and has been running well off a seven pound higher mark since then. He was just held by Northern Empire at Wolverhampton over five furlongs last time out and is certain to give his supporters a run for their money once again. However for the winner we return to River Kirov.
Peter's Storm (USA) 16-1 (9-4) Reared start, slow into stride, soon outpaced, ridden over 2f out, kept on, not reach leaders, 6th of 12, 7l behind Ingleby Arch (9-2) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Nov.
River Kirov (IRE) 11-10fav (8-6) Tracked leaders, always travelling well, led just inside final furlong, driven clear, won at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Restless Genius (8-5) by 3l, 7 ran.
War And Peace (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Pulled hard in rear, wide into straight 2f out, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, ran on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1/2l behind Leading Edge (8-10) at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Incomparable 3-1 (8-13) With leader, ridden over 2f out, jinked right over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 10l behind Trimlestown (8-10) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Figaro Flyer (IRE) 10-3 (8-13) Towards rear, headway 3f out, every chance final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Northern Empire (8-13) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Dark Tara 16-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, behind and outpaced, never dangerous, 8th of 10, 19l behind The Twelve Steps (8-10) at Thirsk 6f 3yo hcp (5) sft in Sept.
Gainshare 20-1 (8-11) Soon prominent, raced keenly, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, 12l behind Balata (8-13) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Maybe I Wont 20-1 (8-6) Tracked leader 2f, remained in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 3l behind Leading Edge (8-10) at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
