mid-division, pushed along halfway, driven and one pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
prominent, ridden halfway, soon weakened
dwelt and towards rear, soon chased along, headway on inner over 1f out, never reached challenging position
prominent, ridden along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, led 3f out, clear over 1f out, edged right and kept on under pressure final furlong
towards rear, headway when not much room 2f out, ran on final furlong
prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
started slowly and always rear division
towards rear, ridden along 3f out, headway over 1f out, no extra final furlong
prominent, ridden along over 2f out, driven and kept on final furlong
Surprise Act won really impressively on his handicap debut and he looks sure to go well again despite an 8lb rise in the weights; Time To Regret and Forbidden make up the shortlist. The selection didn't show an awful lot in three maiden starts but then dotted up on his handicap debut at Brighton. That was no great race by anyone's standard but the manner of victory suggested that more is to come, especially as he may have come on for that run as well as he was returning from a break. Defi won well last time out and has claims if in the same mood although he doesn't tend to repeat his runs, whilst Putra Laju is consistent but tends to fill the places rather than the winners enclosure, a comment that also applies to My Michelle. Our Kes is fairly consistent and whilst there is a worry that he may be high enough in the weights at present, he cannot be ruled out. Boogie Dancer and Convivial Spirit both have place claims once again, however Time To Regret is a more likely threat. He is consistent and should again run his race although he is yet to win off a mark this high. An open affair, in which Surprise Act can come out on top.
Xpres Maite 14-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on, nearest finish, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Goodenough Mover (9-2) at Leicester 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Aug.
Our Kes (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (9-2) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, kept on, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Tanforan (8-4) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Pop Music (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 9l behind Optimus (9-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Convivial Spirit 20-1 (8-5) Held up in touch, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and effort over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 3rd of 11, 1/2l behind Drawn Gold (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 3yo app hcp (5) gd.
Boogie Dancer 10-3 (8-3) Led, headed 1f out, still every chance until no extra near finish, 4th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Rose of Petra (8-10) at Folkestone 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Surprise Act 10-1 (9-1) Prominent, led over 4f out, in command over 1f out, ran on well, won at Brighton 1m 3yo hcp (6) gs in Oct beating Kassuta (8-3) by 4l, 12 ran.
My Michelle 17-2 (8-13) Tracked leader, pushed along over 4f out, driven over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Hoh Wotanite (9-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Putra Laju (IRE) 7-2 (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on close home, never dangerous, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Goose Green (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Time To Regret 3-1fav (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 4l behind Smokin Joe (9-3) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Forbidden (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, hung right 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1/2l behind Royal Embrace (9-1) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Grand Diamond (IRE) 8-1 (8-7) Took keen hold, chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden and hung left 1f out, no impression, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Cinematic (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Defi (IRE) 11-1 (8-11) Led, headed over 3f out, soon ridden, led again over 1f out, driven clear inside final furlong, won at Musselburgh 1m clm (6) gd beating Oeuf A La Neige (8-12) by 4l, 14 ran.
Winged Farasi 20-1 (8-7) In rear, pushed along over 5f out, some headway from over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 12, 8l behind Northern Boy (9-0) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
