held up in mid-division, good headway out wide over 1f out, went 3rd and stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
steadied and stumbled start, raced keenly towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 6f out until pushed along over 2f out, chased leaders, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, weakened final 110 yards
raced keenly towards rear, effort out wide and hung left over 1f out, never involved
in touch in 5th on inside, switched right 3f out, pushed along in 4th and no impression over 2f out, ridden turning in, weakened final furlong
raced keenly tracking leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge
off the pace in last pair, hung left and headway inside final furlong, never threatened
soon tracking leader out wide, led over 7f out, made rest, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, always doing enough
always in rear and never a factor
led 2f, tracked winner until over 6f out, chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and weakening when hung left over 2f out, soon behind
Athmad loves Tapeta having won five times here and twice at Newcastle while Busby is a four-times track winner though he looked a bit high in the weights on his hat-trick bid on Boxing Day and is up again. He had Mafia Power in third when scoring here last month but the latter has won here subsequently and didn't look suited to Chelmsford last time. Master Of Combat won at Doncaster in June and has performed well here in his two latest starts though has gone up without winning. MISS BLUEBELLE is lightly-raced and still has scope. She's been raised 8lb for winning here in November but looks capable of defying the extra.
Master Of Combat (IRE) 11-2 (9-13) Mid-division, lost place over 6f out, headway and switched right over 1f out, hung left and every chance inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 11, shd behind Tiger Beetle (9-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Athmad (IRE) 22-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, led 7f out, lost place entering final furlong, soon hampered and no extra, 10th of 11, 5 1/2l behind Tiger Beetle (9-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Further Measure (USA) 4-1 (9-8) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 5, 4 1/4l behind Barenboim (9-10) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Busby (IRE) 7-2 (10-0) Prominent, shaken up 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, held closing stages, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Dream Harder (9-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Gorak (FR) 4-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, no progress, 9th of 12, 5 1/4l behind First Impression (10-0) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Miss Bluebelle (IRE) 7-2 (9-6) Tracked leaders, good headway out wide over 2f out, led inside final 2f, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on well, easily, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Nov beating Hooflepuff (9-11) by 3 3/4l, 12 ran.
Mafia Power 9-4fav (9-8) Raced wide held up, ridden and headway inside final furlong, nearest finish, 6th of 11, 6l behind Storm Catcher (10-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
War In Heaven (IRE) 22-1 (9-9) Close up, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 13, 6 1/4l behind Eligible (9-5) at Southwell 7f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Bay Dream Believer (IRE) 28-1 (9-2) Towards rear, pushed along 3f out, headway in centre to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Wisper (9-13) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp fll (5) gd in Oct.
Positive Force 22-1 (9-7) Prominent, pushed along over 3f out, kept on inside final furlong but no match for first two, 3rd of 7, 7 1/4l behind Irish Flame (9-7) at Newcastle 1m stks (5) pol in Dec.
