chased leaders on inside, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch, smooth headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, led 1f out, stayed on well
chased leader until 7f out, went 2nd again 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed 1f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened final 110 yards
held up in 7th, rapid headway round horses to press leader 7f out, led 4f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
steadied start, held up in last pair, wide straight, good headway on wide outside over 1f out, strong run to 3rd final 110 yards, almost snatched 2nd, no chance with winner
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
held up in 8th, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden to chase leadrs over 1f out, stayed on to 2nd final 110 yards, kept on, always held
in touch 8f
held up in 9th, headway over 1f out, edging right when not clear run and switched left inside final furlong, stayed on
always towards rear, never a factor
led, joined and pressed 7f out, ridden and headed 4f out, chased leader until 3f out, weakened quickly inside final 2f, behind and pulled up inside final furlong
always behind, never on terms
A tight handicap as most of these have been competing against each other of late. Hurricane Spirit is closely matched on today's revised terms with Understory and Sakhee's Pearl on their running over C&D last month and they're difficult to separate, while previous winner Hurricane Hymnbook was beaten by Choral Festival last time but the latter has subsequently finished behind OPUS MAXIMUS. Conor Dore's charge gets the tentative vote as he went very close in a higher grade race at Lingfield last week. Nibani and Heatherbird are not out of this either in a tough race to call.
Hurricane Spirit (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, always behind, 9th of 14, 5l behind Choral Festival (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Sakhee's Pearl 7-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway on inside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish, almost snatched 3rd, 4th of 8, 1 1/4l behind Hurricane Spirit (9-4) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Understory (USA) 12-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and not quicken final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Hurricane Spirit (9-4) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Opus Maximus (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) In rear, headway over 1f out, ridden to press winner inside final furlong, not quicken close home, 2nd of 10, hd behind Emerald Wilderness (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Nibani (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Dwelt in rear, headway over 3f out, ridden to press winner over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra and eased near finish, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Priceless Art (9-7) at Southwell 1m 3f mdn stks (5) fbs.
Classically (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 12th of 14, 16l behind True To Form (9-6) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Choral Festival 11-1 (8-4) Close up, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 10, 4l behind Emerald Wilderness (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Heatherbird 9-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, headway on bit 2f out, challenged going well over 1f out, shaken up to lead inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Lingfield 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Shieldmaiden (8-12) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Hurricane Hymnbook (USA) 4-1fav (9-0) Mid-division, effort over 1f out, soon beaten, 8th of 14, 5l behind Choral Festival (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Bengal Tiger 33-1 (8-8) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 14, 28l behind True To Form (9-6) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Buddy Holly 14-1 (9-12) Tracked leader over 10f out until pushed along 3f out, chased leaders, went 2nd again 1f out, no chance with winner, weakened to 3rd final 75 yards, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Fascinating (9-11) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Oct.
Bilidn 11-1 (9-6) Raced wide close up, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 9th of 11, 15l behind So Wise (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Corsican Boy 10-1 (8-10) Held up towards rear, ridden on inside 3f out, no response, eased when no chance over 1f out, 10th of 11, 17l behind Sour Mash (9-7) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Sep.
