held up, dropped to rear over 4f out, switched left over 2f out, headway on outer from over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
set steady pace, headed 7f out, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
raced wide took keen hold, held up, headway on outer to lead 7f out, quickened 3 lengths clear 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd close home
dwelt towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish
raced wide tracked leaders until taken back 9f out, towards rear, headway on outer to go close up 7f out, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
dwelt raced wide tracked leaders early, in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
led early, tracked leaders, lost place 7f out, ridden and headway entering final 2f, kept on final furlong
held up, ridden 2f out, not trouble leaders
Three of these won qualifying events for this series final on their latest starts. Western Duke popped up at 25/1 back in September and Seniority was all out to score here last month, though had a subsequent winner back in third. But PLY was the most impressive when winning with plenty left in the tank and he gets the nod to defy a hike in the weights. Desert Ruler, Royal Reserve, Azam and Luv U Whatever have all been beaten at some point by the above trio but Koeman was ahead of X Rated when landing a qualifier here on his penultimate outing and is only 2lb higher. The progressive Just In Time is upped a further 9lb having completed a hat-trick over 1m4f with a recent success at Leicester.
Ply 4-7fav (9-6) Mid-division, smooth headway on inside over 2f out, led entering final furlong, soon quickened clear, very easily, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Oct beating Desert Ruler (9-3) by 3l, 12 ran.
Western Duke (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, led entering final furlong, kept on, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in Sep beating Arab Moon (9-0) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Seniority 7-2jfav (9-2) Took keen hold, mid-division, lost place over 4f out, headway and switched right over 2f out, led and edged left over 1f out, hard pressed final furlong, headed narrowly close home, rallied to lead on bob post, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Oct beating Ennjaaz (8-13) by ns, 12 ran.
Royal Reserve 9-2 (9-6) Held up towards rear, not much room and switched left over 2f out, headway over 1f out, not trouble leaders, 8th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Seniority (9-2) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Azam 25-1 (8-10) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 13, 9 1/2l behind Western Duke (8-11) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Koeman 50-1 (8-8) Held up, pushed along over 2f out, effort over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 16, 8 1/2l behind First Nation (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Just In Time 5-4fav (8-10) Held up towards rear, niggled along over 3f out, soon closed, led 2f out, hard pressed from over 1f out, stayed on, in command close home, won at Leicester 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Reshoun (9-3) by nk, 7 ran.
Desert Ruler 6-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, 2nd inside final 2f, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, readily outpaced and no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Ply (9-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
X Rated (IRE) 25-1 (8-5) Chased leaders on outside, 2nd halfway until ridden 2f out, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 10l behind Koeman (8-11) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Luv U Whatever 80-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 14, 9 3/4l behind La Casa Tarifa (8-0) at Newcastle 1m 2f stks (3) pol in Oct.
