raced in mid-division, ridden along over 3f out, soon beaten
towards rear, shaken up 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on and went fourth inside final furlong, nearest finish
raced freely, close up, shaken up to lead over 2f out, kept on well from over 1f out, comfortably
slowly into stride and towards rear early, soon recovered and in touch, ridden along 2f out, went third inside final furlong, ran on
held up in mid-division, driven along over 2f out, went second over 1f out, ran on but no match for winner
raced in last, never a factor
led, pushed along and headed over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened gradually from 3f out
Haku was partnered by a 7lb claimer when completing a double at Kempton and has also been raised 7lb for this. Bugle Major is usually thereabouts without winning and that will likely be the case again given CRIMSON KING is back on a winning mark. Mick Appleby’s charge ran well at Lingfield on his first outing since May and looks set to make a bold bid on that evidence. Eloso’s earlier double came on Turf and The Trader returns to the Flat having won a maiden hurdle earlier in the month.
Phoenix Aquilus (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division on inside, weakened 2 out, 12th of 19, 25 1/2l behind Contrapposto (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Eloso (IRE) 9-1 (10-2) Raced wide tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened over 1f out, 10th of 12, 6 1/4l behind Lexington Knight (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Haku (IRE) 6-5fav (9-7) Led, headed over 10f out, tracked leaders, switched right over 2f out, led well over 1f out, clear and edged right inside final furlong, eased towards finish, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec beating This Ones For Fred (9-2) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Crimson King (IRE) 22-1 (9-9) Steadied start, held up in last pair, wide home turn, hung left in home straight, stayed on towards finish, no impression, 5th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Tudor (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Bugle Major (USA) 13-2 (9-10) Slowly into stride, towards rear, effort over 2f out, 3rd over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Sweet Fantasy (9-12) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
The Trader (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Bit keen tracking leaders, 3rd travelling well before 4 out, 2nd before 2 out, led going well before the last, kept up to work and stayed on well run-in, won at Southwell 2m mdn (4) gd in Dec beating Spring Note (10-11) by 3l, 10 ran.
Bluenose Belle (USA) 66-1 (10-0) Prominent out wide, went 2nd 10f out, led 9f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon ridden and weakened, 9th of 11, 5 3/4l behind Mille Miglia (10-0) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Testing Faith 66-1 (9-7) Prominent and short of room early, close up, pushed along 3f out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, 12 1/4l behind Perfect Swiss (9-10) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
