slowly into stride, headway on outside 6f out, ridden 2f out, every chance entering final furlong, stayed on same pace final 100 yards
held up, headway on outside over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, not quicken over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
prominent, bumped over 2f out, soon edged right, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace
always towards rear
prominent, not clear run and bumped over 2f out, one pace and no impression final furlong
soon led, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, switched left over 2f out, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, held on well
stumbled soon after start, in rear, not clear run on inside 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on, went 3rd towards finish
led early, mid-division, driven and edged right over 2f out, soon beaten
prominent, lost place 6f out, weakened from over 2f out
AFRICAN BEAT (NAP) won a maiden race at Wolverhampton last time and can improve further now handicapping. Poetic Force won a lower grade handicap at the same track recently but has been upped 9lb while Galahad was raised 6lb for a victory at Newcastle. Lord Clenaghcastle won his first two starts but an 8lb rise proved beyond him last time and Wordsearch looks a bigger danger after going close in a maiden race over track and trip. Habbad also makes his handicap debut and Darkroom Angel was not beaten far when fourth at Nottingham last time.
African Beat (IRE) 6-4fav (9-0) Tracked leader, driven to challenge over 2f out, soon every chance, led over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Flaming Marvel (9-5) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Wordsearch (USA) 7-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, headed final stride, 2nd of 14, nk behind Simoon (9-5) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (6) pol in Nov.
Poetic Force (IRE) 9-2fav (9-6) Led 1f, tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, soon ridden, led again inside final furlong, kept on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f (6) pol in Nov beating Armagnac (9-6) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Oceanus (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Keen, in touch, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 12, 20l behind Brogan (9-6) at Haydock 7f (5) gd in Oct.
Mullarkey 8-1 (9-3) Close up, ridden 2f out, no extra towards finish, 7th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Tap Tap Boom (9-4) at Newmarket 7f (5) gs in Oct.
Lord Clenaghcastle (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) In touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went modest 3rd close home, 3rd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Juanito Chico (9-2) at Brighton 7f (5) gd in Oct.
Habbad (FR) 14-1 (9-5) Raced wide in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 5 3/4l behind Volatile (9-5) at Chelmsford City 7f mdn stks (6) pol in Nov.
Quothquan (FR) 5-1 (8-8) In rear, pushed along over 2f out, effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 11l behind Count Calabash (9-7) at Newmarket 1m 1f (4) gf in Oct.
Galahad 9-1 (8-9) In touch towards rear, headway over 1f out, led entering final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Newcastle 1m (5) pol in Nov beating Tonahutu (9-3) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Darkroom Angel 16-1 (8-13) Keen, tracked leaders, outpaced 3f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, stayed on near finish, 4th of 13, 1 1/4l behind Rashford's Double (9-9) at Nottingham 1m (5) gd in Nov.
Emenem 5-1 (9-5) Close up, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 6l behind Maldonado (9-5) at Epsom 7f mdn stks (5) gd in Sep.
Legendoire (IRE) 50-1 (8-13) In touch, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 13, 5 1/4l behind Hersigh (9-7) at Lingfield 7f (5) pol in Nov.
Lawfilly 10-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Geraldine (9-1) at Wolverhampton 6f (6) pol in Nov.
Dragon Dream (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Behind, outpaced over 2f out, never a threat, 11th of 12, 18 1/2l behind Poetic Force (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f (6) pol in Nov.
