chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
made all, ridden 1f out, kept on and edged left inside final furlong
chased winner until over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly away, in rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside to take 3rd
behind, ridden over 4f out, some headway over 1f out, never dangerous
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, soon went 2nd, kept on and no extra near finish
A few of these have been knocking at the door of late. Singzak and Scribe are usually thereabouts at this level but patience has run out with both of them and Lacey makes more appeal. He faded close home over 2m last time but had scored in good style over course and distance earlier when beating subsequent winner Fire In Babylon. A line through the latter also brings STORMY MORNING into the equation as he was giving Fire In Babylon plenty of weight when second on his reappearance. Philip Kirby's charge gets the vote with that run under his belt. It was heavy ground when Calaf scored at Catterick in October but he can race off a 5lb lower mark back on this surface.
Calaf 9-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders and keen, challenged over 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, held on well towards finish, won at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) hvy in Oct beating Sioux Chieftain (9-1) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Singzak 9-4fav (9-8) Led, pushed along over 2f out, soon ridden, headed 1f out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Odin (10-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Scribe (IRE) 4-1 (9-9) Tracked leading pair, pushed along 8f out and again over 4f out, driven over 3f out, stayed on to 2nd approaching fuinal furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Echua (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Kayalar (IRE) 28-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, 8th of 11, 31l behind Layline (9-4) at Ffos Las 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) hvy in Sep.
Lacey 5-1fav (9-1) Raced wide towards rear, headway 6f out, wide into straight 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Outrageous Request (9-7) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Stormy Morning 7-2 (9-5) Held up in rear, closer order in 4th 5f out, headway to 3rd over 2f out, went 2nd and hung left under pressure inside final furlong, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Fire In Babylon (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Brunello 14-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders on outside, driven over 3f out, ridden and every chance over 2f out to over 1f out, no impression in 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Luctor Emergo (10-7) at Southwell 1m 6f am hcp (0-70) (5) fbs in Jan.
Pinotage 33-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, never dangerous, 10th of 12, 27l behind Bayan Kasirga (8-12) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Oct.