held up, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish
held up in touch, weakened 2f out
held up mid-division, stayed on final furlong
led, headed over 4f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, held up, never dangerous
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out
held up, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
tracked leaders on outer, one pace
prominent, weakened inside final furlong
with leader, led over 4f out, ridden 2f out, headed towards finish
held up mid-division, one pace
held up in touch, chased leaders over 1f out, no impression
held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
Nonrunner
FINAL DRIVE was value for more than the winning margin last time and is taken to follow up that Lingfield success; Copperwood and Cheery Cat would appear to be the biggest dangers. Ed Creighton's gelding comes here on the back of a Lingfield success over a mile. The drop back in trip shouldn't hinder and it would be no surprise to see him follow up here. Sign Of The Cross is a course winner and he shaped with more promise last time out at Lingfield, Outer Hebrides is able to race off his last winning mark, whilst Nativity is still a maiden but she has run some good races in defeat. First-time headgear is tried on Inside Trade and Headache, whilst it is taken off Valentino Swing. Copperwood only lost out by the narrowest of margins at the track last time out and is able to race off the same mark of 50 this afternoon, whilst Cheery Cat goes unpenalised for a Lingfield win last time out and should go well for the same pilot this evening from a very good draw. An open handicap, however we are happy to side with Final Drive.
Final Drive (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Pulled hard, soon steadied towards rear, ridden and headway on wide outside over 1f out, sustained run to lead towards finish, won going away, won at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol beating Party In The Park (8-12) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Sign of The Cross 13-2 (9-4) Held up in rear, headway entering final 2f, soon ridden, went 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2 1/4l behind La Gifted (9-2) at Lingfield 7f app hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Outer Hebrides 12-1 (8-11) Behind, pushed along 3f out, kept on inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 6th of 11, 3l behind The History Man (9-1) at Bath 6f hcp 0-58 (6) gd in Oct.
Ymir 9-1 (8-8) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakening when short of room over 1f out, 7th of 12, 5l behind Dinner Date (9-7) at Kempton 1m hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Oct.
Inside Trade (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, rousted along in mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 12, 12l behind Ede's Dot Com (8-9) at Kempton 7f stks 0-55 (6) pol in Oct.
Diane's Choice 6-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, ran on one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 2l behind The History Man (9-1) at Bath 6f hcp 0-58 (6) gd in Oct.
Valentino Swing (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 18l behind Lethal (9-1) at Yarmouth 6f clm stks (6) gd in Apr.
Mr Rio (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 4l behind Ede's Dot Com (8-9) at Kempton 7f stks 0-55 (6) pol in Oct.
Copperwood 16-1 (8-10) In touch on inside, switched left over 2f out, driven to challenge approaching final 1f, upsides winner from 150 yards out and kept on well, just failed, 2nd of 14, shd behind Eliza Doolittle (9-0) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Headache 9-1 (9-0) Took keen hold, chased leaders, chased winner well over 2f out, hard ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Mighty Mover (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Oct.
Wotatomboy 33-1 (8-4) Always behind, 16th of 18, 29l behind Liberty Trail (9-1) at Redcar 7f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Oct.
Cheery Cat (USA) 8-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 6f app hcp 0-55 (6) pol in Oct beating Colombard (8-6) by nk, 10 ran.
Ishibee (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, pressed on final furlong, 4th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Sonhador (8-13) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Oct.
Nativity 16-1 (8-9) In rear, soon pushed along, headway over 1f out, went 2nd final furlong, no chance of winner, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Wake Up Call (8-9) at Kempton 6f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Oct.
