slowly away, held up, always behind
led, ridden and headed just over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, raced keenly, ridden well over 1f out, never dangerous
pressed leader every chance over 1f out, one pace and lost 2nd near finish
prominent, raced keenly, weakened over 1f out
in touch, raced keenly, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, took 2nd near finish, no impression on winner
started slowly, in rear, effort over 2f out, never reached leaders, weakened in final furlong
in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, eased final furlong
mid-division, headway 3f out, led just over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, ran on well
held up, always towards rear
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakening when edged left inside final furlong
RIVER KIROV has yet to prove on the racecourse that he stays seven furlongs, but pedigree suggests that he should so and if that occurs then he will be tough to beat here. Michael Wigham's gelding is a thoroughly consistent sort who has won two of his last four, both over 6f, and was still competitive from this mark of 62 despite a rise of 12lbs for those successes. Related to winners over plenty further than this, we will take him to score. Milne Bay is open to a bit of improvement now stepped back up in trip after a win over 6f last time at Great Leighs. He has actually dropped 2lb in the handicap since that success, so he must come into calculations. Gramm won over this trip on his 2005 debut but has shown his best form over further in recent times, with a 1m 1f win here a couple of starts ago underlining that. He remains competitively weighted and should not be far away if he has the pace. Dancing Deano will relish the trip and surface, but he looks to have a few pounds too many to lump around now and we'll take him on. Harrison's Flyer is not without a chance if he can reproduce his latest run here, but we will take River Kirov to score.
Mayoman (IRE) 9-2fav (9-4) Steadied start, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no further impression, 6th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Step It Up (9-1) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Dancing Deano (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Prominent, driven to challenge and every chance approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Another Genepi (8-9) at Southwell 7f clm (6) fbs in Nov.
Rabbit Fighter (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Held up, raced keenly, stayed on final furlong, never nearer, 7th of 11, 7l behind Doubtful Sound (8-8) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Fancy Footsteps (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Prominent, every chance from 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Wellington Square (9-3) at Kempton 1m mdn aut stk (5) pol in Nov.
Coleorton Dancer 10-1 (8-10) Slightly hampered start, prominent, raced keenly, weakened 1f out, 9th of 10, 13l behind Theonebox (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
River Kirov (IRE) 5-2fav (8-10) Pulled hard to wards rear, headway 2f out, ran on well towards finish, just failed to take 2nd, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Richelieu (9-1) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Promise Of Love 20-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, driven halfway soon weakened, last of 14, 18l behind Billy Red (8-10) at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct.
Gramm 5-2 (9-3) Mid-division, headway to chase winner over 1f out, no impression, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Royal Island (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Milne Bay (IRE) 9-4fav (8-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Great Leighs 6f app hcp (5) pol beating Compton Classic (8-0) by 1l, 6 ran.
Takitwo 4-1fav (9-0) Steadied start, soon mid-division, effort over 1f out, stayed on to close on leaders well inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Piccolo Diamante (8-13) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Harrison's Flyer (IRE) 20-1 (8-6) Mid-division over 3f out, headway 2f out, 6th entering straight, led well inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 12, hd behind Guildenstern (8-13) at W'hampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
