always behind
held up in touch, led over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on
soon led, driven over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
behind, headway over 1f out, never nearer
held up mid-division, ridden to challenge over 2f out, stayed on same pace
pulled hard in touch, effort well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up in touch, hard driven and effort 2f out, soon one pace
prominant, effort 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders over 4f
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, soon chasing winner, ran on
Titus Gent has been the model of consistency in recent starts and should again be thereabouts but he has to race off a career high mark and, having been beaten off this mark when beaten by Partner last time, looks best watched in a race taken to go to SPICE RUN, who gets the vote with Leading Edge rated the best of the rest. The selection makes his handicap debut off what seems a fair mark having beaten a 70 rated rival comfortably when landing a maiden over course and distance last time and he can follow up here. Onceaponatime has struggled in three starts since winning here in October, while Restless Genius is capable but inconsistent. The Adrian McGuinness-trained Dash Back races off the same mark as when a close fourth behind Perlachy over course and distance last month and he has to be respected along with Leading Edge. Mick Channon's filly won well over course and distance recently but a 5lb rise for that success makes this tougher and a better bet looks to be Spice Run, who can win again.
White Shift (IRE) 66-1 (8-11) Always behind, last of 12, 23l behind Earlsmedic (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
Gap Princess (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Prompt, lost place after 2f, headway over 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 3/4l behind Perlachy (8-7) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Titus Gent 8-1 (9-2) Went right start, tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on but no answer to winner's pace, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Partner (8-11) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Onceaponatime (IRE) 11-2 (8-12) Towards rear, hard ridden over 1f out, headway soon after, switched left inside final furlong, stayed on, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Tourist (9-4) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Dash Back (USA) 7-2 (9-2) Prominent, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol beating Istiqdaam (8-13) by nk, 11 ran.
Stash 10-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway on inside 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Caledonia Princess (8-12) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Charles Parnell (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Held up, headway on outside well over 2f out, ridden and weakened well over 1f out, 5th of 10, 10l behind Titus Gent (9-3) at Wolverhampton 6f sell stks (6) pol in Oct.
Doctor Hilary 66-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out, last of 11, 9l behind Partner (8-11) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Restless Genius (IRE) 9-4fav (9-0) Took keen hold, held up, headway when not clear run and hampered over 1f out, ridden and stayed on towards finish, 5th of 11, 1 3/4l behind Welcome Approach (8-6) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Espy 5-1fav (9-1) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 6th of 9, 11l behind Todber (8-9) at Kempton 6f app hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) pol in Oct.
Spice Run 7-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, in rear, switched right approaching 2f out, wide, headway soon after, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 6f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Zegna (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Cornus 9-1 (9-4) Held up, headway over 1f out, one pace, 6th of 12, 7l behind Tourist (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct.
Leading Edge (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) In rear, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, edged left and driven out, won at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov beating Sea Rover (9-2) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
