held up, outpaced over 3f out, stayed on final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
always towards rear
led, ridden, headed 1f out, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
with leader, ridden to lead final furlong, kept on
slowly into stride, headway on inner over 3f out, kept on inside final furlong
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
prominent, weakened over 2f out
outpaced towards rear, eased over 1f out
towards rear, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
always towards rear
General Feeling has the overall form to command respect in this grade, and is the pick ahead of Native Title, Far Note and Hurricane Coast. General Feeling was good enough to land a handicap at Lingfield in November and was also successful here in December. He very nearly saw out the year in style as well, narrowly failing to overcome a slow start and wide draw on a return to the Surrey track on 30 December, and although he has stall 13 today, it will hopefully not prove unlucky. He makes more appeal than Native Title whose last victory came at Epsom in June 2004 and whose two all-weather runs to date have been on the Southwell Fibresand. His rating certainly means that he should not be overlooked, but he has not been that impressive lately. Far Note has disappointed on his only two visits here in the past, while Hurricane Coast is a past course-and-distance winner who has a visor on first-time to sharpen him up. Graze On has a three-month absence to overcome, and for the winner it has to be General Feeling.
General Feeling (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) Steadied start, headway on outer over 1f out, ran on strongly final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Franksalot (8-12) at Lingfield 6f clm (6) pol in Dec.
Hurricane Coast 7-1 (9-3) Held up, pushed along halfway, some late headway, never near to challenge, 7th of 13, 8l behind Local Poet (9-0) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Whitbarrow (IRE) 25-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace, 7th of 11, 4l behind Wahoo Sam (8-9) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Graze On 6-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, led just over 2f out, pressed final furlong, held on well final 50 yards, won at Bath 6f 3yo clm (6) gf in Oct beating Casterossa (8-6) by a nk, 18 ran.
Native Title 10-1 (9-0) Held up, ridden over 1f out, edged right to chase winner final furlong, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Maktavish (9-7) at Southwell 5f app clm (6) fbs.
Colonel Cotton (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, no impression, 9th of 10, 13l behind Maktavish (9-7) at Southwell 5f app clm (6) fbs.
Winning Pleasure (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, 12th of 14, 12l behind Owed (8-11) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Easy Feeling (IRE) 16-1 (8-4) Led until headed just inside final furlong, weakened final 100 yards, 6th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Franksalot (8-12) at Lingfield 6f clm (6) pol in Dec.
