started slowly, hit side of stalls start, held up 5th, stayed on from over 1f out, not trouble leaders
held up 4th, ridden well over 1f out, kept on final furlong to take 3rd, not reached leaders
chased leaders, ridden to chase winner well over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, closed towards finish, always held
made all, led, ridden 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, driven out
started very slowly, rider failed to remove blind leaving stalls, always well in rear
chased winner to well over 1f out, no extra and one pace from over 1f out
It has taken an eternity for Smokin Beau to exploit the chances given to him by the handicapper, but he finally seems to have his act together and is fancied to take some pegging back tonight. Fellow veteran Dancing Mystery and Fizzlephut are forwarded as the main dangers tonight. The last named goes well on the artificial surfaces and should not be underestimated. He is 2lb better off with Azygous (hammered by the selection here last month) from the last time they met and should make a bold bid to at least uphold that form. Dancing Mystery is perpetually written off in the betting in races of this nature but still continues to defy his advancing years. However, he looks weighted to the hilt just now and is reluctantly passed over in the hope that Smokin Beau can continue his revival. The Nick Littmoden-trained gelding was more like his old self when making virtually all here three weeks ago and will be very hard to master if he runs the same sort of race again.
Dancing Mystery 14-1 (8-12) Chased leaders stands side, effort 2f out, one pace final furlong, 7th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Make My Dream (8-11) at Nottingham 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Oct.
Baileys Outshine 13-2 (9-3) Led, ridden well over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra, 6th of 10, 2l behind Back In The Red (9-3) at W'hampton 5f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Fizzlephut (IRE) 11-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, went 2nd entering final furlong, kept on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Silver Prelude (8-10) at W'hampton 5f hcap (5) pol.
Smokin Beau 15-2 (8-13) Made all, ridden clear over 1f out, driven final furlong, all out, won at Kempton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov beating Hollow Jo (9-4) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Stoneacre Boy (IRE) 17-2 (8-11) Dwelt, soon chasing leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Tartatartufata (9-3) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Azygous 8-1 (8-11) Chased winner, every chance inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Silver Prelude (8-9) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Dress To Impress (IRE) 22-1 (8-11) Steadied start and keen, effort on inside over 1f out, no impression, 9th of 13, 5l behind Curtail (9-3) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
