stumbled start, soon rushed up to lead, headed over 3f out, soon weakened
held up in touch, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leader, hard ridden to lead inside final furlong, all out
mid-division, under pressure over 3f out, gradually weakened
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on, never able to challenge
behind, headway over 5f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 3f out
always behind
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, never on terms
mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon weakened
prominent, led over 3f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
held up in touch, ridden to challenge over 2f out, kept on same pace
GHUFA gets the nod for the seller, with Dream In Blue the best of a moderate bunch in opposition. The selection won a similar contest over course and distance in September and he has run three pretty good races since then in the context of this contest. Back to this trip today and on a surface that suits he is going to take a bit of beating. Dream In Blue is rated 1lb higher than the selection and is actually 5lbs better off with him than if this were a handicap. One previous run here was very encouraging in defeat, but his recent efforts don't fill us with enthusiasm, though money for him would probably be significant. Fantasy Ride is a previous course and distance scorer, but although he often goes well in defeat, success is very hard to come by, and we will oppose, while Davids City has shown enough ability to suggest that, if there is some market warmth, he could make the frame now dropped in trip. Not a race to get heavily involved with and preference is for Ghufa.
Desert Hawk 33-1 (9-10) In touch, ridden and weakened 3f out, 9th of 10, 17l behind Hucking Hero (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f sell stks (6) pol in Oct.
Ghufa (IRE) 4-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Hucking Hero (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f sell stks (6) pol in Oct.
Davids City (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride and always behind, 9th of 11, 12l behind Key Regard (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f clm stks (6) pol in Nov.
Dream In Blue 25-1 (9-9) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd over 7f out, joined leader over 5f out, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 11, 10l behind Time Book (9-3) at Southwell 1m 4f mdn stks (5) fbs in Nov.
Fantasy Ride 10-1 (9-1) In rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, never trouble leaders, 7th of 15, 9l behind Doubnov (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f sell stks (6) pol in Nov.
Rising Force (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Held up, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 14, 16l behind Inch Lodge (9-8) at Kempton 1m 3f app hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Sep.
York Cliff 33-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, always behind, last of 11, 17l behind Safebreaker (10-10) at Chester 1m 4f am hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Aug.
Casablanca Minx (IRE) 28-1 (8-4) Always behind, 7th of 13, 10l behind Bidable (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Nov.
Markadam 13-2 (8-6) Held up in touch, chased leaders over 6f out, weakened over 3f out, eased over 1f out, 8th of 10, well behind Jackday (9-8) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Oct.
Misty Kit 50-1 (9-3) Slowly away, held up in rear, weakened over 3f out, 11th of 12, 30l behind Inflammable (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol.
Shandelight (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Took keen hold, soon tracking leader, driven over 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, 9th of 12, 16l behind Mayadeen (8-13) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct '08.
Tesserae 14-1 (9-0) Soon tracked leader, led over 4f out, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, 5th of 13, 13l behind Private Equity (8-11) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Nov.