mid-division, pushed along halfway, soon weakened
mid-division, driven and headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, headway on wide outside over 2f out, chased leaders approaching final furlong, soon hung left, never a threat
held up in rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, stayed on well
mid-division, lost place over 3f out, switched right over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish
held up in rear, headway on inside over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, no extra closing stages
tracked leader, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up, never dangerous
chased leaders, lost place well over 1f out
took keen hold tracking leaders, led 3f out, drew clear approaching final furlong, ran on well
always behind
led, headed 3f out, lost place approaching final furlong
A fairly inauspicious start to proceedings but Estibdaad arrives off the back of a win at Lingfield while Collodi has only found one too good in a couple of recent runs at Kempton, though is best at a mile. CAPTAIN FELIX won over this trip on Turf at Beverley in August, however, and Simon Walker's presence in the saddle is a massive plus. He looks the one to beat, though Lean On Pete has done most of his winning around here and can't be discounted. This looks much too short for Noguchi but Party Royal could be interesting dropped in class.
Shalamzar (FR) 50-1 (8-9) Steadied start in rear, ridden 5f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 6, dist behind Famous Kid (10-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Party Royal 12-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, no real progress, 8th of 12, 11l behind Dark Amber (11-3) at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp (5) sft in Aug.
Freud (FR) 12-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, last of 14, 22 1/2l behind Ginger Jack (9-4) at Thirsk 1m hcp (4) gf in May.
Captain Felix 11-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 6th of 13, 6 1/2l behind Elusive Guest (9-6) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Noguchi (IRE) 22-1 (9-6) Led, headed halfway, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 8 1/2l behind Grand Meister (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Lean On Pete (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Close up, ridden over 2f out, faded final furlong, 5th of 8, 6 3/4l behind Pactolus (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Estibdaad (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Led, 3f, tracked leader until 6f out, 2nd again on inside 2f out, strong challenge inside final furlong, led towards finish, just lasted, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Oct beating Age of Elegance (9-2) by ns, 12 ran.
Collodi (GER) 8-1 (9-1) Dwelt, towards rear, headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Elusive Guest (9-6) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Mac Tiernan (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Always towards rear, 10th of 11, 28 3/4l behind Philba (9-5) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Hussar Ballad (USA) 9-1 (9-6) Mid-division, effort on outside over 3f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Ickymasho (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Automotive 6-1 (10-12) Towards rear, some headway on outside 2f out, never threatened, 9th of 16, 7 3/4l behind Taurian (11-0) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Offbeat Safaris (IRE) 80-1 (10-5) Dwelt, in touch, ridden and no impression final 2f, 7th of 13, 12l behind Roger Thorpe (10-8) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Evacusafe Lady 10-1 (9-8) Always towards rear, 11th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Thane Of Cawdor (9-10) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Nov.