led, steadied pace 11f out, headed and ridden over 2f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, headway on inside and plugged on in 3rd final furlong
tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed and readily outpaced by winner inside final furlong
held up in 5th, closer out wide 11f out, went 3rd 8f out, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened home turn
held up in 4th, dropped to last 11f out, smooth headway between horses 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, led inside final furlong, quickened readily clear
NonRunner
NonRunner
CRIMSON KING (NAP) won easily over 1m4f here a fortnight ago with Further Measure back in third and also finished in front of Chipiron when runner-up over today’s trip earlier. Mick Appleby’s charge looks worth sticking with. Winklevi is fitted with headgear having gone close the last twice including a head defeat over course and distance. He looks the main threat given Liberated Lad had every chance at Kempton yesterday while Three Platoon is upped in trip and preferred to Celestial Force.
Further Measure (USA) 11-2 (9-11) Close up, tracked leaders 7f out, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 4 3/4l behind Crimson King (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Chipiron (FR) 6-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, not clear run over 2f out and over 1f out, soon went 3rd and edged left, kept on, no impression on winner, 3rd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Garden Paradise (9-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Winklevi (FR) 5-2 (9-2) Tracked leader until 5f out, tracked leaders, ridden and headway entering final furlong, soon pressed winner, ran on, 2nd of 6, shd behind Rafiot (9-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Crimson King (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Awkwardly away, in touch, wide and headway to track leaders over 4f out, ridden 2f out, clear approaching final furlong, eased close home, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec beating Onesmoothoperator (9-4) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Three Platoon 6-1 (9-1) Slightly short of room start, raced in 3rd, dropped to last under 5f out, pushed along 3f out, headway to challenge over 2f out, every chance from under 2f out, no extra and weakened entering final furlong, 3rd of 4, 3 1/4l behind Sir Chauvelin (10-3) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Celestial Force (IRE) 5-4fav (11-10) Handy, pushed along and pressed leaders before 2 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden after last, no impression, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Dream Du Grand Val (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 3f (5) gs in Nov.
Liberated Lad 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and hit 2 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 23 3/4l behind Tease And Seize (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) gs in Dec.