ridden away from stalls, led over 9f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
chased leaders, effort on inside over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, headed towards finish
steadied start, always in rear
prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression
held up in touch, effort over 2f out, hanging left from over 1f out, not much room inside final furlong, kept on
mid-division, headway going well 2f out, quickened up and edged left from over 1f out, ran on to challenge, led towards finish
towards rear, headway over 1f out, no impression
tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd 7f out, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, pushed along on outside over 3f out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, took keen hold, lost place 8f out, not clear run inside final furlong, ran on, no impression
steadied start, always towards rear
led, headed over 8f out, stayed handy, lost place over 1f out
MIDDLE KINGDOM may well have extended his unbeaten record at Chelmsford had he had a clear run. The handicapper has left him on the same mark and he should gain compensation, granted luck in-running, before going on to better things. Emenem won here in January and is seeking a fourth all-weather victory. De Sousa takes over the reins after last month’s third at Epsom. Celestial Spheres won at Newmarket earlier this month and has won two of his three starts since cheekpieces were fitted, though has been unlucky with the draw. Cape Peninsular has s solid all-weather record and could find some improvement in blinkers while Ay Ay is a previous course winner who has only been raised 2lb for winning at Nottingham.
Middle Kingdom (USA) 11-10fav (8-13) Slowly into stride, soon tracking leaders on inside, not clear run over 1f out, pressed winner briefly inside final furlong, 3rd and held towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1/2l behind Plutonian (8-9) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Brex Drago (ITY) 10-1 (9-2) Mid-division, driven over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 8, 11 1/4l behind Petite Jack (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Sep.
Believe It (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, last of 16, 12 1/4l behind Brilliant Vanguard (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp (2) pol in Sep.
Red Tea 7-1 (9-3) Led 1f, steadied tracking leaders, pushed along over 3f out, headway into 3rd over 1f out, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Via Serendipity (8-11) at Newmarket 1m hcp (3) gf in Nov.
Vettori Rules 14-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 3f out, last of 8, dist behind Arrowtown (9-10) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Sep.
Cape Peninsular 5-2fav (9-8) Held up in mid-division, smooth headway on outside tracking leaders 2f out, 2nd 1f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Lopes Dancer (9-0) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Fayez (IRE) 4-1 (9-10) Dwelt, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, kept on well, never able to challenge, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind La Casa Tarifa (8-0) at Newcastle 1m 2f stks (3) pol in Oct.
Coillte Cailin (IRE) 40-1 (9-5) Behind, outpaced on inside over 1f out, soon ridden, never on terms, 11th of 12, 11l behind Master Singer (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Emenem 6-1 (9-6) Held up in last pair, headway on wide outside 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on into 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Native Prospect (8-10) at Epsom 1m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Oct.
Celestial Spheres (IRE) 3-1fav (9-4) Tracked leaders far side, stayed on inside final furlong, led final strides, won at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Nov beating Garrick (9-2) by hd, 11 ran.
Ay Ay (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, kept on to lead post, won at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Oct beating Fast And Hot (9-4) by hd, 10 ran.
Gothic Empire (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Restless in stalls and dwelt, towards rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, almost snatched 3rd, never nearer, 4th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Cliffs Of Capri (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Sir Titan 10-1 (9-9) Soon led, headed 5f out, lost place 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 17th of 20, 15 1/2l behind What's The Story (9-5) at Doncaster 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
First Flight (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Held up in last pair, headway on inside 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace and no impression in 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 6l behind Castlelyons (9-1) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
