slowly into stride, held up, in lead over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in last, headway 2f out, 5th entering straight, came towards stands side from over 1f out, 2nd and ran on one pace inside final furlong
prominent, pushed along over 3f out, weakening in 6th entering straight
prominent, 3rd entering straight, weakened final furlong
led, headed over 7f out, remained handy, pushed along over 3f out, led 2f out, driven out
held up, headway over 2f out, 4th entering straight, ran on one pace inside final furlong
led over 7f out, weakened over 3f out, soon last
BAVARIAN NORDIC looks a progressive colt and he is taken to extend his winning run to four here, while Just Bond and Folio may well emerge as the main dangers. The selection has racked up a hat-trick over 10f and 1m 4f, and he has gone up another 6lb for his recent Southwell success. He stayed on strongly there and punters will be hoping that his 3lb claimer will boot him out up near the pace and make it a genuine test. The one note of caution is that his wins have come on ground that we can generalise as being slow, and he does have to prove that he will act on this slightly quicker surface. Just Bond is a genuine sort, if a little inconsistent, but he does pop up with a win from time to time. The main concern for those intending to wager here is whether he will see out this trip, as one who is generally kept to a mile. Folio won¿t have any problems on that score and Willie Musson's gelding, who has a good pitch here, showed signs of a return to form from this mark at Great Leighs last time. He has won from higher marks in the past, and if there is market support for him he would become very interesting. Trainer Neil Vaughan had a winner recently and he saddles Supercast here, who is just 1lb higher than his highest BHA winning mark and handles the track and trip well, so he must have a bit of a squeak at what will probably be a decent price. Even so, Bavarian Nordic may still be ahead of the assessor and we won't desert him just yet.
Saltagioo (ITY) 16-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, outpaced well inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Royal Amnesty (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Just Bond (IRE) 28-1 (8-9) Held up in rear, headway under pressure 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 3l behind dhtrs Nanton (8-7) & Suits Me (9-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Bavarian Nordic (USA) 3-1 (8-13) Took keen hold and settled behind leaders, ridden to lead well over 1f out, edged left and was clear approaching final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Oct beating Persian Peril (9-9) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Kildare Sun (IRE) 14-1 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, never on terms, 7th of 12, 10l behind Aussie Blue (9-0) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jun.
Supercast (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, led well over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 10, 10l behind Suzi Spends (8-13) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Folio (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway to chase winner over 1f out, unable to quicken final furlong, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Awatuki (9-6) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Dragon Slayer (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Took keen hold, held up in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out, 7th of 9, 8l behind Remember Ramon (9-7) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Man of Gwent (UAE) 9-1 (8-9) Soon pushed along in rear, never dangerous, 14th of 15, 27l behind Prairie Storm (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) hvy.
