always towards rear
prominent, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon hung left, ran on
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
in touch, ridden and hung left over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, not troubled winner
held up, ridden over 2f out, hung badly left and kept on from over 1f out, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
slowly into stride, always behind
soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened 1f out
behind, not much room over 7f out, ridden over 2f out, ran on final furlong, nearest at finish
led early, prominent, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace
Nonrunner
Bold Marc deserves to win a race of this nature but Karl Burke's gelding is creeping up in the weights without winning and may need some help from the handicapper and preference is for Middlemarch, who gets the vote ahead of Cusoon. The last mentioned has rather harshly been raised 3lbs for his hard-fought and narrow success over 1m2f at Lingfield last time and he may not appreciate the return to a mile anyway so may be best watched. Writ has won his last two starts and obviously warrants respect but this looks tougher for Ian Semple's gelding. Ed Dunlop's King of Argos is less exposed than most of these and could improve past his rivals but he may want further to show his best form so is probably best left out of calculations. Street Warrior has to be respected with Mark Johnston's horses in good form right now but he also needs to improve and of more interest may be Master Mahogany, who looks to be going the right way. The last mentioned is held by the selection on running here last month though and, with more improvement to come on this surface for Middlemarch, Jim Goldie's gelding gets the vote to win again.
Black Falcon (IRE) 66-1 (9-3) Held up, headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 13, 8l behind Stargazer Jim (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Bold Marc (IRE) 7-1 (8-6) Led 1f, remained prominent, pressed winner from 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 9, nk behind Nevada Desert (8-8) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-90 (3) fbs.
Cusoon 9-2jt-fav (9-7) Well placed off slow pace, headway 2f out, switched left over 1f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, held on, all out, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcap (5) pol in Oct beating Red Birr (9-5) by a shd, 14 ran.
King's Account (USA) 28-1 (9-1) Mid-division, ridden and weakened well over 2f out, 11th of 13, 18l behind Stargazer Jim (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
King of Argos 11-2 (8-12) Took keen hold, led over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, 3rd and held when not much room towards finish, 5th of 13, 2l behind Stargazer Jim (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Tempsford Flyer (IRE) 8-1 (8-4) Chased leaders, ridden and out pace 3f out, no chance after, 9th of 14, 7l behind Persian Express (7-13) at Kempton 1m 3yo hcp (3) pol in Sept.
Middlemarch (IRE) 11-4fav (9-2) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct beating Wasalat (8-8) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Street Warrior (IRE) 9-1 (8-11) Soon chasing leader, led 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakening when not much room just inside final furlong, 9th of 13, 7l behind Stargazer Jim (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Master Mahogany 10-3fav (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Prince Tum Tum (9-2) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Trifti 9-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 19l behind Country Escape (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Mataram (USA) 16-1 (8-12) Held up, never dangerous, 15th of 20, 13l behind Pleasing (8-4) at Newmarket 1m 3yo app hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Writ (IRE) 4-1fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct beating Pab Special (8-9) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Alfie Tupper (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Held up, ridden, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 16, 11l behind Kingsholm (9-4) at Goodwood 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sept.
