chased leaders, until weakened after 5f out
led, headed over 3f out, weakened quickly over 2f out
held up, headway on wide outside over 6f out, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, weakened rapidly 6f out, soon pulled up
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, chased leading over 1f out, stayed on strongly towards finish, just failed
in touch, went 2nd 3f out to 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden 4f out, soon beaten
in touch, went 2nd 5f out, led over 3f out, strongly pressed final furlong, headed well inside final furlong, lost 2nd near finish
held up in rear, headway on outside over 3f out, stayed on under pressure to lead well inside final furlong, held on gamely
Melpomene, Archduke Ferdinand and Valance are three against the field in the finale and the confident vote is given to Melpomene. The selection won with a little in hand last time out when beating Kames Park and although rising in the weights he still looks ahead of the handicapper and he is taken to win again from a good draw. Archduke Ferdinand rates the main danger on his latest third behind Billich on the flat but he has yet to win off a mark this high and is taken on with this in mind. Valance is another that could go well on his latest second behind High Point but he looks vulnerable under top weight. Of the remainder. Night Cruise is unexposed and is from a yard in form so should be noted in the market but for the winner we return to the progressive Melpomene.
Valance (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, ridden to dispute lead over 2f out, slightly outpaced over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to take 2nd near line, 2nd of 5, 2l behind High Point (9-3) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Melpomene 2-1fav (9-1) Made all, ridden out, won at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Kames Park (9-13) by 3l, 9 ran.
Archduke Ferdinand (FR) 13-8fav (9-6) Pulled hard in rear, headway 11f out, went 2nd 4f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Billich (8-6) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Silvertown 8-1 (9-12) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 15l behind Escayola (9-9) at Musselburgh 2m hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Nov.
Tritonville Lodge (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Always in touch, ridden approaching 2f out, weakened 1f out, 5th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Sirce (8-13) at Bath 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Oct '05.
Llamadas 25-1 (8-6) Took keen hold, tracked leader, ridden and lost place 4f out, weakened from 2f out, last of 10, 20l behind Eva Soneva So Fast (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Follow On 9-2fav (8-10) Close up in main group, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, last of 9, 27l behind Mersey Sound (7-11) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul.
Twill (IRE) 12-1 (8-3) Chased leaders, ridden 4f out, soon weakened, tailed off final 3f, 9th of 10, well behind Juniper Girl (8-2) at York 2m 2f hcap (3) sft in Oct.
Night Cruise (IRE) 7-2 (9-4) Prominent, chased winner over 2f out, hung left from over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Pagano (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Linden Lime 5-1 (9-13) Pulled hard behind, headway from 2f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 11, 3l behind Salute (10-3) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
