took keen hold in touch, chased leaders over 1f out, unable to quicken final furlong
raced wide, held up towards rear, headway on outside over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened
led after 1f, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, effort, ridden 2f out, carried head high and looked reluctant when not much room inside final furlong, kept on after
chased leaders until lost place halfway, headway on inside over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
switched left from wide draw, held up last, switched right, headway final furlong, finished well
led for 1f, tracked leader, led over 1f out, ran on well
chased leaders, effort on inside to go 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
in touch, ridden on outside 3f out, soon beaten
behind, ridden over 2f out, never in contention
took keen hold in mid-division until lost place over 3f out
Picador gets the vote over Revolve, Kilimandscharo and Fantasy Crusader in the finale. Not too much catches the eye here and the vote goes to Picador who shaped really well on his seasonal reappearance when runner-up to Qualitair Wings. He had been confined to shorter trips in three previous starts, but like so many of Sir Mark Prescott's, showed vast improvement when upped to a more suitable distance. He will strip fitter now and with yet another furlong to travel, should prove hard to beat. Revolve is a past course-and-distance winner who could be ready to strike form soon, while Kilimanscharo has a near six-month absence to overcome but shaped with promise earlier in the year. Fantasy Crusader also has winning form here but has gone a bit off the boil, and they will all have to go some to stop Picador from going one better.
King of Knight (IRE) 11-2 (8-13) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Major Blade (7-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (6) pol in May.
Fantasy Crusader 20-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, some headway over 2f out, no impression, 8th of 12, 8l behind Qualitair Wings (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcap (6) pol in Nov.
The Iron Giant (IRE) 11-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, led over 5f out until over 2f out, soon weakened, 12th of 15, 18l behind Maximix (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Ifatfirst (IRE) 25-1 (8-3) In touch and keen, tracked leader 10f out, led over 5f out, driven and headed over 2f out, soon hampered and lost place, 6th of 8, 12l behind Your Amount (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Picador 7-2 (8-7) Always prominent, ridden over 2f out, edged left and led over 1f out, headed close home, 2nd of 12, nk behind Qualitair Wings (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcap (6) pol in Nov.
Revolve 9-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, led well over 1f out to inside final furlong, faded, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Shaheer (9-5) at Kempton 1m 2f banded stk (7) pol in Nov.
Diktatorship (IRE) 28-1 (8-3) Mid-division, some headway when badly hampered and unseated rider in race won by Qualitair Wings (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcap (6) pol in Nov, 12 ran.
Shropshirelass 40-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, not quicken final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Under Fire (8-6) at Brighton 1m 3yo hcp (6) gs in Oct.
