towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon edged right, kept on
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders
mid-division, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on, not reach leaders
led, 3 lengths clear 5f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
dwelt soon tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and ran on gamely
tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden to chase winner 2f out, faded inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to challenge winner entering final furlong, ran on
always in rear, pushed along after 2f, ridden halfway
Mark Johnston, who provided last year's winner, saddles the top weight Pure Excellence and bottom weight Fraserburgh in this but neither leap off the page on recent efforts. Red Joker's form figures are impressive but he was beaten in a three-runner race at Redcar when last seen in August while Lightning Launch just scraped home in a Musselburgh maiden on his reappearance. Country Western was more impressive at Kempton and has scope for further improvement while Richard Fahey has his string well forward so the filly Dusky Queen can't be ignored. Hiddon Coin has been thriving on the all-weather lately but we're going to take a chance on HIDDEN TALENT. He contested Listed races last season when trained in France by Eoghan O'Neill and may have been let in lightly on his UK debut. London Citizen and the lightly-raced Bapak Sayang can't be ignored either.
Pure Excellence 9-1 (9-2) Prominent, carried wide on bend well over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 10, 37l behind Newstead Abbey (8-10) at Musselburgh 1m 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Mar.
Hidden Talent (9-2) 7th of 9, 10l behind Guajaraz (9-2) at La Teste De Buch(FR) 6f stk gd in Aug.
London Citizen (USA) 5-1 (8-2) Wide, gave way, 6th of 7, 17l behind Hard To Name (8-7) at Philadelphia Park(USA) 6f all plt in Oct.
Bapak Sayang (USA) 8-1 (9-5) Led, steadied pace after 2f, ridden and tried to quicken pace 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 5, 10l behind Stasio (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2yo nov stks (4) pol in Nov.
Country Western 7-2 (8-13) Made all, driven over 1f out, ran on strongly, won at Kempton 7f mdn stks (4) pol in Mar beating Strictly Silca (8-8) by 2l, 6 ran.
Dusky Queen (IRE) 5-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, effort 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out until no extra inside final furlong, lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 8, 5l behind Top Notch Tonto (9-4) at Ayr 1m 2yo hcp (2) hvy in Sep.
Red Joker (IRE) 3-1 (9-1) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 5l behind No Jet Lag (9-1) at Redcar 7f nov med aut stk (5) gd in Aug.
Lightning Launch (IRE) 9-4 (8-13) Made all, driven clear over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Musselburgh 7f mdn stks (5) gs in Mar beating Brooke's Bounty (8-13) by nk, 8 ran.
Fraserburgh (IRE) 16-1 (8-0) Chased leaders on wide outside, carried even wider on bend well over 3f out, soon lost place, 9th of 10, 36l behind Newstead Abbey (8-10) at Musselburgh 1m 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Mar.
Hiddon Coin (IRE) 18-1 (8-4) Led, hung left on bend well over 3f out, soon challenged, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Newstead Abbey (8-10) at Musselburgh 1m 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Mar.
