mid-division, headway over 1f out, never nearer
led, hard driven over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon hampered and weakened
reared start and slowly away, mid-division, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, switched right to challenge approaching final furlong, stayed on well, never reached winner
mid-division, driven halfway, weakened over 2f out
slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression
chased leaders, driven to lead over 1f out, hard ridden when challenged closing stages, held on gamely
tracked leader, every chance well over 1f out, soon hung left under pressure, faded final furlong
steadied start, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, kept on same pace
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, never on terms
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, no extra final furlong
held up, some late headway, never dangerous
DARK PHANTOM went close here on his penultimate start when ahead of Patron of Explores and may prove good enough in this lowest grade. Irish raider Fairy Foxglove is another to consider with Tony Hamilton on board while Salvado won a Class 7 event over 6f at Chelmsford last month but has been beaten since. Bionic Indian could also go well off his current mark in this company and Spoken Words' only win so far in 43 starts came in this race last year.
Poor Duke (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Raced wide towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 9th of 11, 12l behind Greek Islands (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Bionic Indian 7-2 (8-7) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Exentricity (9-4) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Salvado (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Chased leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 6 1/2l behind Honiton Lace (9-3) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (7) pol in Dec.
Binky Blue (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Foylesideview (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Offbeat Safaris (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, soon faded, 6th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Foylesideview (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Paradise Spectre 40-1 (8-11) Slowly away always in rear, 10th of 11, 11 1/2l behind Mallymkun (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Fairy Foxglove (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 13, 1 1/4l behind Tithonus (9-9) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Dec.
Dark Phantom (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 6th of 11, 3 3/4l behind Les Gar Gan (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Patron of Explores (USA) 9-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, pulled hard in rear, never dangerous, last of 11, 7 3/4l behind Roman De Brut (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (7) pol in Dec.
Spoken Words 66-1 (8-7) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Exentricity (9-4) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Lutine Charlie (IRE) 25-1 (8-7) Held up, headway on outside over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced, 7th of 10, 4l behind Dandys Perier (9-6) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Machiavelian Storm (IRE) 15-2 (8-12) Prominent, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 7, 11 1/2l behind Thello (8-13) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
