mid-division, steady headway over 5f out, one pace final 2f
held up, never near leaders
held up, headway on outside over 2f out, kept on
started slowly, always behind
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
always towards rear
led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway on inside over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
held up, in touch, weakened 3f out
held up in touch, went 2nd 2f out, led 1f out, driven out
held up towards rear, ridden and headway on outside over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
A competitive finale which looks to be principally between Smoothie, York Cliff and Intavac Boy, and we will take Intavac Boy to prevail. The Chris Thornton-trained runner has been knocking on the door off this sort of mark and over this trip and handled the surface well when runner-up to Gentle Peace here last time. The form of that race hasn't worked out especially well, but Intavac Boy seems to be in good heart and can take this. Smoothie was a winner when last seen out just over a year ago and has been dropped 2lb since. If he's fit enough after his absence then he can go very close, but his yard are still hit and miss at the moment and we will oppose. York Cliff is an interesting mount for Eddie Ahern, who rode him last time. A 2lb drop will definitely help and we can see the gelding - who has been running well enough in defeat - being bang there at the finish. But Intavac Boy is thriving at present and we will take him to score.
King of Music (USA) 9-2 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 15l behind Efrhina (8-9) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Nov.
Bienheureux 4-1fav (9-0) Held up, headway and not clear run 2f out, switched right, ran on final furlong, gaining near finish, 3rd of 15, 1l behind Captain Margaret (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Magic Warrior 14-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 14, 3l behind Ramsgill (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Rare Coincidence 8-1 (8-13) Led after 2f, ridden and headed after 2f out, one pace, 8th of 15, 3l behind Captain Margaret (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
York Cliff 9-2 (9-6) In rear, headway on inside 3f out, not much room over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Sea Map (9-5) at W'hampton 1m 4f sll (6) pol in Nov.
Intavac Boy 7-2fav (9-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3f out, hung left over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Gentle Peace (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Galley Law 25-1 (8-12) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on, never nearer, 5th of 10, 4l behind Gentle Peace (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Dinner Date 33-1 (8-12) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 6th of 14, 4l behind Ramsgill (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
