in touch, ridden over 2f out, hung left from over 1f out
held up and keen, ridden over 3f out, hampered over 2f out, plugged on
in rear, headway on inside to chase leaders over 2f out, ran on final furlong
led, headed over 6f out, led again over 3f out, ridden and headed last strides
prominent, led over 6f out, headed over 3f out and weakened
in touch, weakened 2f out
mid-division, ridden and weakened 2f out
in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, stayed on
outpaced early, headway on outside over 2f out, soon held
in touch, behind from halfway
mid-division, steady headway 3f out, ridden and hung left over 1f out and faded
Burhaan, Zhitomir and Stellite take the eye here and top weight Burhaan can win the day. Stellite won in emphatic fashion at Ayr last time and had been running consistently before that and must go well. Zhitomir is another who has been running consistently, with two placed efforts to his credit at Catterick recently. He won here last December but may just be a bit high in the weights. Burhaan though looks the one to beat. John Gosden¿s representative lost his maiden tag on his handicap debut over this course and distance and although he has been raised nine pounds he can shrug that off. He has improved significantly for stepping up in trip and Burhaan can lead them home.
Burhaan (IRE) 7-2fav (9-4) Soon with leader, led over 4f out, ridden clear final furlong, comfortably, won at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Oct beating Abstract Folly (9-3) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Zhitomir 8-1 (8-7) Chased leader, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 18, 2 1/2l behind Wyatt Earp (9-4) at Catterick 7f hcp (4) sft.
Sling Back (IRE) 14-1 (8-8) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Alchemist Master (8-8) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Oct.
Stellite 4-1fav (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, ridden clear inside final furlong, won at Ayr 7f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Sept beating Quantica (8-12) by 5l, 16 ran.
Welsh Wind (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Held up, not clear run well over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Rolex Free (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (G4) pol in Mar.
Bijou Dan 9-2 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 12, 15l behind Merlins Profit (9-4) at Musselburgh 1m sll (6) gf in Jul.
Joshua's Gold (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, challenged over 3f out, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 13th of 16, 7l behind Dium Mac (8-6) at Redcar 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Oct.
Band 7-2fav (9-2) Keen, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 13, 3l behind Qualitair Wings (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.