held up, always in rear
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway 3f out, soon ridden, kept on one pace final furlong
pulled hard, prominent, ridden, every chance 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden, headed over 1f out, one pace
in touch, ridden, every chance entering final 2f, outpaced by winner inside final furlong
led, ridden, headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out
pulled hard, held up, smooth headway 2f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, soon clear, comfortable
Nonrunner
Caribbean Pearl, Young Mick and Sporting Gesture are the three to consider here, and with conditions in his favour, Sporting Gesture is taken to collect this lucrative prize on his seasonal re-appearance. Clive Brittain's lightly raced Silver Hawk filly, Caribbean Pearl is a live contender judged on her two wins at the end of last season, rounding off the campaign with a victory against more experienced rivals. She may still be under-rated by the handicapper, but took an outing to come to hand last season and may do so again. Young Mick's five wins have all come on the all-weather but he comes here in good heart after winning at Kempton on Saturday and will be race fit. Sporting Gesture can make a winning seasonal debut however. He has ground conditions in his favour, and won three times last season, scarcely running a bad race. He still appears well treated, and at the age of nine can go from strength to strength. Sporting Gesture looks the one.
Ski Jump (USA) 5-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, lost place over 5f out, 8th of 9, well behind The Nawab (8-2) at York 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct.
Sirce (IRE) 16-1 (7-12) Towards rear, never dangerous, 14th of 21, well behind Come On Jonny (8-0) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-110 (2) hvy in Nov.
Top Seed (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon weakened and eased final furlong, last of 8, 13l behind Ouninpohja (9-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Annambo 20-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 12, 18l behind Pass The Port (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Caribbean Pearl (USA) 7-1 (7-13) Held up in rear, headway 3f out, chased leader 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear, won at Newmarket 1m 4f fll hcp (3) sft in Oct beating Ceiriog Valley (8-5) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Magic Amigo 40-1 (9-2) Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, ridden out, won at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) hvy in Nov beating Maxamillion (8-4) by a nk, 12 ran.
Young Mick 11-4fav (8-10) In touch, always going well, chased leader over 1f out, led 1f out, quickened clear, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcap (5) pol beating Zalkani (9-1) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Sporting Gesture 16-1 (9-2) Held up, effort over 5f out, headway over 3f out, every chance and hung left final furlong, one pace, 4th of 10, 6l behind Tcherina (8-1) at York 1m 4f app hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Tilt 8-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 11, 10l behind Bulwark (9-5) at Nottingham 2m 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sept.
