disputed lead on outside, headed before halfway, effort to lead home turn, faded final 100 yards
towards rear, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
chased leaders, ridden home turn, faded final furlong
disputed lead, headed early but remained prominent, in contention final 100 yards, no extra close home
disputed lead, headed 4f out, pushed along on home turn, weakened final furlong
held-up last, effort on home turn, disputed lead final furlong, led final 100 yards
towards rear, some progress final furlong but never a factor
mid-division, stayed on well on outside close home
mid-division on inside, pushed along on home turn, progress final furlong, nearest finish
in rear out wide, keen, some late progress close home
disputed, led halfway, ridden 2f out, faded before final furlong, well beaten
Little Boy Blue finished in front of Steelriver when third over track and trip while Ultra Violet has been thereabouts on the Turf recently having slid down the weights. A Sure Welcome is another looking to take advantage of a tumble down the handicap and is preferred to Iconic Knight, who has yet to score on the all-weather. But NEWSCASTER has the most scope of these and only gave way inside the final furlong over course and distance on her handicap debut. Karl Burke’s filly looks up to winning off her current mark on that form and gets the vote.
Little Boy Blue 18-1 (9-7) Chased leader, lost second 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2 1/4l behind One Night Stand (9-7) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Steelriver (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never near to challenge, 8th of 13, 5l behind One Night Stand (9-7) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
With Caution (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Slow and hampered start, always behind, last of 8, 21 1/2l behind Fantastic Flyer (9-3) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp fll (4) pol in Feb.
A Sure Welcome 16-1 (9-0) Rearing in stalls and awkwardly away, soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, lost 2nd and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 2l behind Rock Boy Grey (9-6) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Ultra Violet 4-1 (9-8) Prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 8, nk behind Inevitable Outcome (9-0) at Yarmouth 6f hcp fll (5) gf in Sep.
Newscaster (IRE) 18-1 (9-1) Led briefly, pressed leader until led again over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, weakened well inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Melodic Charm (9-10) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp fll (4) pol in Oct.
Musharrif 16-1 (9-8) In touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 6th of 16, 9 1/2l behind Penny Pot Lane (9-1) at Pontefract 6f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Araifjan 15-2 (9-5) Led 1f, chased leaders on inside, headway between horses over 1f out, went 2nd 1f out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Highfield Princess (9-6) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Iconic Knight (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, headway and switched left over 1f out, not much room on far rail entering final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 10, 5 3/4l behind Punchbowl Flyer (9-8) at Windsor 6f hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
Bombastic (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders on outside, lost place over 2f out, 10th of 11, 8 3/4l behind Gavi Di Gavi (9-1) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (5) pol in Jul.
Oriental Relation (IRE) 28-1 (8-12) Raced wide tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 11, 14 1/2l behind B Fifty Two (9-7) at Catterick 6f hcp (6) hvy in Oct.
