slowly into stride, held up, headway over 5f out, ridden when not clear run and lost place over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
led, ridden and edged right from over 1f out, headed close home
prominent and keen, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden and headway well over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
pulled hard in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, headway 7f out, not much room over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on to lead close home
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
held up, ridden when edged left and headway over 1f out, kept on, never dangerous
mid-division, pushed along 6f out, weaken 3f out
held up, headway over 3f out, ridden when carried right and every chance from over 1f out, not quicken close home
Iftikhar may just have the edge here over So Elegant and York Cliff. Jamie Spencer takes the mount on Mark Brisbourne's seven-year-old for the first time and the combination look certain to go close. The gelding hasn't been seen out since last February but has gone well fresh in the past. He was successful over the shorter trip here on his penultimate start but is just as effective over this distance as well and he looks handicapped to go very close. York Cliff has been a model of consistency, rarely getting beaten far on his recent visits here. He does only have one career victory, but is well capable of reaching the frame yet again. So Elegant on the other hand wins her fair share of races and although rising up the weights she should still take a hand in the finish. The selection's stable companion Desert Hawk is another to keep on the right side, especially with Eddie Ahern on board, but on this occasion we will side with Iftikhar.
Iftikhar (USA) 4-1 (8-11) Prominent, went 2nd over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 12, 7l behind Tokewanna (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (E4) pol in Feb.
Pharaoh Prince 6-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 7f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 13, 24l behind Cumbrian Knight (10-4) at W'hampton 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Abbeygate 7-2fav (9-0) Towards rear, some late headway, never near to challenge, 5th of 12, 9l behind Preskani (9-1) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) fbs in Dec.
York Cliff 12-1 (8-13) Held up rear, ridden and some headway over 1f out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 6l behind I'll Do It Today (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Sriology (IRE) 9-1 (8-11) Dwelt and towards rear, headwayover 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Amorist (9-4) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) fbs in Dec.
Little Richard (IRE) 7-2 (9-1) Mid-division, switched and headway over 1f out, ran on to lead last strides, won at W'hampton 1m 6f (7) pol beating Moon Shot (9-6) by a nk, 9 ran.
So Elegant (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) Held up behind, plenty to do and wide into straight well over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 13, 1l behind Augustine (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Star Welcome 11-2 (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, not clear run inside final furlong, stayed on, 4th of 13, 1l behind Mister Completely (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f stk (7) pol in Dec.