chased leaders, went 2nd over 3f out until 2f out, ridden 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
in rear, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
held up mid-division, ridden and weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong
with leader, ridden and faded final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, no chance with winner
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway and switched left over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well
IFAN is highly respected off a fair mark but the poor run being enjoyed by his normally consistent yard, especially at this time of the year, is a concern. Stakes should be applied with that in mind but the Welsh handler's run of disappointments has to come to an end sooner or later and the Ivan Denisovich gelding can do the business here. He ran a stormer last time when a fast-finishing runner-up to Intomist over Salisbury's seven furlongs. Croeso Mawr has a superb record here, including the completion of a 22-day hat-trick at the venue last autumn. He's up 15lb for those successes but hasn't been seen since that latest victory back in early September. He'll have a great chance if ready for this reappearance run though. Peak Storm enters calculations after scoring here last time whilst George Baker produced a good reappearance run and William Twiston-Davies claims a useful 5lb off the topweight.
George Baker (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Pressed winner, ridden over 1f out, no impression well inside final furlong, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Finesse (9-5) at Warwick 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May.
Uncle Dermot (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 13, 21l behind Invincible Hero (9-1) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in May.
Sea Soldier (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 18, 8l behind Red Seventy (9-3) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Mahadee (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Chased leading pair, ridden and no impression over 1f out, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Elusive Hawk (9-6) at Lingfield 7f clm stks (6) pol in May.
Croeso Mawr 15-8fav (9-10) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd over 2f out, edged left and led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Chepstow 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Sep beating Authoritarian (9-1) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Batchelors Star (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Held up last, plugged on inside final furlong, never involved, 8th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Sir Mike (9-6) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in May.
Dimitar (USA) 12-1 (9-4) Steadied start, held up in rear, never involved, 7th of 8, 9l behind Emmuska (9-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in May.
Ifan (IRE) 13-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon every chance, stayed on strongly, never reached winner, 2nd of 17, shd behind Intomist (8-11) at Salisbury 7f app hcp 0-70 (5) gs in May.
Kept 25-1 (8-10) Towards rear, never on terms, 11th of 13, 18l behind Sehnsucht (9-2) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in May.
Peak Storm 3-1fav (9-7) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden and edged left 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Chepstow 7f stks 0-55 (6) sft in May beating Tenbridge (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 16 ran.
