in rear, never troubled leaders
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
in rear, headway on inside approaching final furlong, ran on towards finish, just failed
held up in rear, wide and headway entering final 2f, ridden to lead inside final furlong, just held on
reared start, mid-division, ridden and headway when short of room over 1f out, not recover
held up, headway and switched right over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, not reached leaders
led 1f, tracked leaders after, ridden over 2f out, weakened quickly from over 1f out
mid-division, never troubled leaders
in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
led after 1f, ridden 2f out, hung right, headed and no extra inside final furlong
close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
in rear, ridden and stayed final furlong, not reached leaders
tracked leader after 1f until ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
There was plenty to like about the way HOLYFIELD WARRIOR returned to action after over a year out to win last time and we'll take him to build on that and go in again in preference to Turkish Sultan and Coolnaharan. Lightly raced for a five-year-old the selection showed no lack of fitness on his return performance to just get up in time. Given the late nature of that win the step up in trip this time should suit and he does usually come on for his opening gambit. Turkish Sultan has looked much improved in his last two starts and is slightly better off at the weights than when placing over a mile at Lingfield last time so more improvement could be in the offing. Coolnaharan won on his penultimate run over course and distance but didn't seem to come to terms with his revised mark on his latest outing, however in this field should do better. Ten Pole Tudor's form is erratic and his recent win was in a seller so we¿ll pass him over this time and give the pick to Holyfield Warrior.
Chia (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, always behind, 9th of 12, 7l behind Insolence (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f flls hcp (0-70) (3yo+) (5) pol in Nov.
Ten Pole Tudor 12-1 (8-11) Held up, ridden and raced wide over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 10l behind Head First (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Holyfield Warrior (IRE) 25-1 (8-8) Held up towards rear, wide into straight 2f out, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov beating Spinning Ridge (9-2) by nk, 12 ran.
Coolnaharan (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) Held up, took keen hold, headway over 3f out, 2nd over 2f out, edged left under pressure over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 10l behind Resentful Angel (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app hcp (6) pol.
Magners Hill (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden into 9th 2f out, no impression in 8th 1f out, kept on one pace, 8th of 16, 7l behind The Last Stand (8-9) at Fairyhouse 1m 2f hcp 47-65 gf in Jun.
Ryker (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Mid-division, towards rear 2f out, 13th of 14, 22l behind Inquisitress (8-6) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Achromatic 5-1 (9-0) In rear, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, headway 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Wunder Strike (8-12) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Stoic Leader (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, one pace, 7th of 13, 3l behind Royal Society (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
John Potts 12-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, keen, ridden, weakened over 2f out, last of 15, 26l behind McCormack (8-6) at Newcastle 1m 2f app hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Apr.
Kirstys Lad 25-1 (8-6) Towards rear, ridden and headway on outer over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 4l behind Head First (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Turkish Sultan (IRE) 9-1 (8-6) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, chased leading pair over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Join Up (8-13) at Lingfield 1m app hcp 0-55 (6) pol.
Corrib (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Close up, driven along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 13, 22l behind Zaif (9-4) at Brighton 1m 4f app hcp 0-55 (6) gd in Oct.
Northgate Lodge (USA) 100-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 8th of 13, 18l behind Equinine (8-12) at Redcar 6f mdn stks (5) gf in Sep.
