slowly into stride, outpaced, stayed on well towards finish
slowly into stride and outpaced, stayed on well from over 1f out
in touch, ridden over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, pushed out
chased leaders, weakened 2f out, hung right handed
tracked leader, led approaching 2f out, ridden and headed well inside final furlong, faded
always outpaced in rear
led, ridden and headed approaching 2f out, weakened and edged left 1f out
Peter Makin-trained Kitchen Sink will probably be all the rage here after a decent effort here last time, but we will take him on with a horse he beat that day in Kung Hei, while Ceredig can also go well. Kung Hei was admittedly beaten soundly by Kitchen Sink in that race here a fortnight ago, but he had previously shown promise in defeat on the all weather at Lingfield, not such a dissimilar surface to this. He probably needed that recent run and can strip much fitter here. Although four lengths ahead of the selection, Kitchen Sink probably can't improve much on that recent effort and was soundly beaten in any case. He could also encounter stiff opposition for the runners-up spot from Ceredig on a line through Tajjree, but he also has a long losing sequence to his name and is not thought by this judge to be a betting proposition at the likely odds, so we will go for a bit of value and Kung Hei is taken to score.
Ceredig 11-4 (9-3) Held up in touch, ridden to have every chance inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Rowe Park (9-3) at Lingfield 5f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Nov.
Comic Tales 50-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway over 1f out, one pace, 7th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Elvina (9-0) at W'hampton 5f Stks (41-45) (7) pol.
Kitchen Sink (IRE) 1-2fav (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden and hung left over 1f out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Tajjree (8-12) at W'hampton 5f mdn aut stk (6) pol.
Kung Hei 10-1 (9-3) Led, headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 6l behind Tajjree (8-12) at W'hampton 5f mdn aut stk (6) pol.
Optical Seclusion (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) Prominent, hampered over 3f out, every chance well over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Tajjree (8-12) at W'hampton 5f mdn aut stk (6) pol.
Left Nostril (IRE) 18-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, hampered over 3f out, hung left from over 2f out, no impression, 5th of 10, 5l behind Tajjree (8-12) at W'hampton 5f mdn aut stk (6) pol.
Nawayea 7-2 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on, not reached leaders, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Staceymac (8-12) at Kempton 5f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Dec.
For Life (IRE) 13-2 (8-7) Steadied at start and took keen hold towards rear, never a factor, last of 10, 18l behind Val de Maal (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-50 (6) fbs.