prominent, chased leader and every chance over 1f out, no extra and one pace final furlong
steadied start and settled in rear, ridden and close enough 2f out, no headway over 1f out, one pace
tracked leaders to 2f out, outpaced over 1f out
mid-division, hanging left from 2f out, ridden and effort over 1f out, stayed on iniside final furlong, took 3rd towards finish
mid-division, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden and effort over 1f out, one pace final furlong
tracked leader, quicken to lead 2f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, held on well close home
took keen hold towards rear, good headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, gaining final strides, just failed
led, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on until, faded inside final furlong
always towards rear, outpaced final 2f, never dangerous
Atlantic Story showed improved form last year and Mick Easterby's gelding has to be respected despite the burden of 9st 12lb but the seven-year-old is arguably better over seven furlongs so he may be best left out of calculations with preference for TITAN TRIUMPH, who gets the vote ahead of Ace of Hearts. Chris Wall's gelding is holding his form well at the age of 10 and has to be considered although he may just be a shade high in the weights. Red Somerset lost no caste in defeat behind Premio Loco over course and distance last time and the Ron Hodges-trained gelding has solid claims off the same mark today. Pam Sly's Samarinda ran well behind Flipando at Great Leighs last time and has to be respected on that evidence but he is not the most consistent of performers. Gay Kelleway's Fajr needs to improve on recent form to trouble the judge and the best option looks to be Titan Triumph. The five-year-old is in the form of his life at present having won his last four starts and the son of Zamindar is taken to make it five on the bounce.
Atlantic Story (USA) 7-2 (9-2) Tracked leaders on inside, chased winner over 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, lost 2 places well inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Duff (9-4) at Kempton 7f lst stk (1) pol in Dec.
Fajr (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Steady start, soon in touch, effort on inside 2f out, soon ridden and weakened quickly over 1f out, last of 10, 9l behind Atlantic Story (9-8) at Lingfield 7f hcap (2) pol in Nov.
Ace of Hearts 7-2fav (9-4) Led early, always prominent, ridden to chase winner well over 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Willow Dancer (8-11) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Oct.
Samarinda (USA) 12-1 (9-4) Led until over 6f out, tracked leaders after, led again over 1f out, edged right under pressure, headed inside final furlong, soon weakened, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Flipando (8-13) at Great Leighs 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Capricorn Run (USA) 33-1 (9-4) Dwelt, soon tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, slightly outpaced over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, never nearer, 3rd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Premio Loco (9-0) at Lingfield 1m stk (3) pol.
Red Somerset (USA) 14-1 (8-9) Led narrowly, ridden and headed 1f out, kept on but always held by winner final half furlong, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Premio Loco (9-0) at Lingfield 1m stk (3) pol.
Titan Triumph 10-3fav (9-3) Steadied start, held up last, headway on outside 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, led entering final furlong, ran on well, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec beating Tous Les Deux (8-6) by 1l, 9 ran.
Kayak (SAF) 14-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 6th of 7, 6l behind Suits Me (9-10) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Swiss Act 16-1 (9-0) Pressed leader, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place and beaten, last of 5, 7l behind Premio Loco (9-0) at Lingfield 1m stk (3) pol.
