chased leaders, ridden 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong
held up, headway over 2f out, switched right and ridden over 1f out, hung left and led well inside final furlong, ran on
held up, not clear run over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never dangerous
slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression
slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
led, ridden over 2f out, headed and not quicken well inside final furlong
slowly into stride, behind, ridden and headway well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
with leader until ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
in touch, lost place over 3f out, soon behind
About as open as it gets here today this 7f handicap and Stoic Leader is taken to score from Master Mahogany, Rainbows Guest and Valentino Swing. The selection is an interesting booking for the very capable Paul Hanagan, who partnered Roger Fisher's gelding to success from a 9lb higher mark at Musselburgh as recently as August. The six-year-old ran with credit on his next start, but has beeen thrashed in two subseqent runs and comes here freshened up after a short break. He is clearly more than capable off this mark and we take him to score. Master Mahogany rarely runs a bad race and is a worthy top weight as a result. He is 12lb higher than his last win at Bath in May 2005 and keeps edging up the handicpa in defeat. Rainbows Guest is interesting if Andrew Balding has him at fever pitch after a year off, while Valentino Swing has the ability to get involved but has yet to convince on this surface. So, for the winner, we return to Stoic Leader.
Master Mahogany 8-1 (9-6) Prominent, ridden, every chance 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Middlemarch (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Prince Tum Tum (USA) 15-2 (9-3) In rear, headway 2f out, running on when badly hampered and stumbled inside final furlong, not recover, 7th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Briannsta (9-1) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Bessemer (JPN) 4-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, one pace, 5th of 13, 4l behind Climate (9-6) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol in Oct.
Rainbows Guest (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Soon chasing leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on well, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs beating Royal Embrace (8-6) by 5l, 14 ran.
Valentino Swing (IRE) 9-1 (8-8) Towards rear, never a factor, 8th of 12, 7l behind Prince Dayjur (8-13) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Stoic Leader (IRE) 25-1 (8-9) Raced keenly with leaders, lost place 2f out, soon weakened, 14th of 15, 14l behind Nanton (8-11) at Redcar 1m hcap (2) gd in Sept.
Dvinsky (USA) 18-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, edged left and headed inside final furlong, not quicken, 4th of 12, 3l behind Premier Fantasy (9-4) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Bollin Edward 9-2 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 12, 11l behind Le Chiffre (8-8) at W'hampton 7f app clm (6) pol in Jul.
