held up in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
raced keenly, with leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
prominent, pulled hard, stayed on same pace final furlong
mid-division, raced keenly, headway well over 1f out, led 1f out, hung left, ran on
slowly away, held up, not clear run 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer
mid-division, not clear run on inside and lost place over 2f out, in rear after
slowly into stride, held up, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on towards finish
led, raced keenly, headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, eased
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, headway on outside well over 1f out, hung left and kept on inside final furlong
prominent, raced keenly, weakened over 1f out, eased well inside final furlong
EPIDAURIAN KING bounced back to form last time and he could be worth sticking with here; Shunkawakhan and Vanadium rate as the main dangers. Derek Shaw's 5-year-old got back to winning ways when he scored at Kempton last time out over a mile. He has a penalty for that success and he is dropped in trip which suit. He did win three races in quick succession at the turn of the year and he could be capable of wracking up another sequence. Shunkawakhan looks the main danger as he has been in good form of late, but he is better over slightly further than this and on that basis he looks opposable. Vanadium loves it here and he wasn't beaten far last time when he finished a close fourth behind A Big Sky Brewing over this course and distance. The draw could have been kinder but George Baker will try and produce him with a wet sail and he can't be ruled out. Kirstys Lad won well last time but all his best form is over further and we will stick with Epidaurian King as the pick. (Jamie Watson)
Vanadium 7-2fav (9-4) Held up, headway over 2f out, kept on but not reach leaders, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind A Big Sky Brewing (8-13) at W'hampton 7f hcap (6) pol in Sept.
Ishiadancer 10-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, led over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on, 5th of 20, 1 1/2l behind Strawberry Moon (9-2) at Redcar 7f 3yo hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Polish World (USA) 25-1 (9-0) Took keen hold, held up in touch on inside, effort 2f out, never reached leaders, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Cool Sands (9-1) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct.
Shunkawakhan (IRE) 15-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, one pace, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Bramalea (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct.
Cap St Jean (IRE) 3-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, hung right over 5f out, switched right and headway over 2f out, effort over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Singleb (9-2) at Leicester 7f 3yo & 4yo sll (5) gd in Aug.
Morocchius (USA) 16-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, towards rear, headwaw and switched left 2f out, ran on to take 3rd well inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 3rd of 14, 3l behind Musical Script (9-6) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Kirkie (USA) 20-1 (8-13) Led early, in touch, ridden and weakened 4f out, last of 13, well behind Swords (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Aug.
Hobson 8-1 (9-4) Made most until headed inside final 2f, weakened final furlong, 4th of 14, 5l behind Kannon (9-3) at Brighton 1m 3yo hcp (6) gd in Oct.
Motu (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden and outpaced 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 14, 9l behind Musical Script (9-6) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Kirstys Lad 7-2fav (9-1) Always prominent, chased leader 3f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Oct beating Ardent Prince (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Willhewiz 12-1 (8-9) In touch, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 16, 16l behind Kyllachy Storm (8-10) at Bath 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Oct.
Epidaurian King (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Held up well in rear, still plenty to do over 2f out, headway on inside over 1f out, led just inside final furlong, driven and in command final 100 yards, won at Kempton 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct beating Under Fire (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 14 ra.
