tracked leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden and weakened over 2f out
led, ridden over 2f out, joined and driven over 1f out, headed narrowly inside final furlong, rallied to lead final strides
towards rear, pushed along and hampered approaching 4f out, ridden and some headway 2f out, never a factor
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not reach leaders
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
slowly into stride, raced wide, mid-division, ridden and weakened 3f out
hampered start and slowly into stride, held up, headway halfway, ridden and hung left over 1f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, in rear, never nearer
slowly into stride, soon in touch, ridden halfway, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 3f out, driven and stayed on final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to go 2nd 2f out, driven, edged left and led narrowly inside final furlong, headed final strides
always in rear
chased winner until 2f out, ridden and weakened final furlong
always in rear
One of the toughest to solve on the card but something has to win and we'll side with THE CITY KID who might be able to fend off the likely challenges from Hit The Switch and Ingleby Princess to score. Our choice goes well enough here and looks competitively weighted having been dropped a pound for finishing third last time. Running at the right trip today and from a good draw, Dane O'Neill's mount rates a sporting selection to prove good enough. Hit The Switch is perhaps the biggest danger, having romped home with a mile contest here two starts ago. Slightly disappointing under a penalty at Kempton it may pay to forgive Pat Morris' gelding that effort in the hope that Southwell brings out the best in him, in which case a 10lb higher mark than for his win here wouldn't seem an impossible task to overcome, such was the manner of success that day. Ingleby Princess is also 10lbs higher than for a course and distance success two starts ago and whilst that was an impressive enough victory the starting price of 50/1 suggested it was something of a surprise and it remains to be seen whether this mare can repeat the trick. Saving Grace must be noted for support representing a yard that knows the time of day, as must Circle Dance who has been off since the summer but isn't without hope having won off much higher marks in the spring. A race with many if's and buts that may well fall the way of The City Kid.
Circle Dance (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Raced stands side, always in rear, hung left and eased over 1f out, 14th of 17, 19l behind Lithaam (8-10) at Nottingham 5f hcp 0-55 (6) gd in Aug.
Jonnie Skull (IRE) 100-1 (9-0) Raced wide, in touch, weakened over 3f out, last of 8, 37l behind Les Fazzani (9-1) at Kempton 1m 4f listed stks (1) pol in Nov.
Kheskianto (IRE) 22-1 (8-13) Tracked winner until approaching 2f out, soon ridden, weakened entering final furlong, 7th of 12, 10l behind My Sweet Georgia (9-4) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Nov.
Ingleby Princess 6-1 (9-1) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Swiss Art (9-4) at Southwell 1m sell stks (6) fbs in Nov.
Hit The Switch 7-2 (9-0) Held up, kept on from over 1f out, 5th of 14, 12l behind Topcroft (8-10) at Kempton 1m app hcp 0-50 (7) pol.
Dhhamaan (IRE) 14-1 (8-6) Towards rear, never near leaders, 9th of 13, 7l behind Diamond Blade (8-5) at Redcar 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Sep.
The City Kid (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Chased leaders on outside, ridden well over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach front pair, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Philmack Dot Com (8-13) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Artesium 20-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, steadied over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, soon behind, 11th of 13, 12l behind Shannon Golden (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f stks 0-55 (6) pol in Oct.
Saving Grace 100-1 (8-12) In rear, ridden and weakened 3f out, 10th of 11, 9l behind Alanbrooke (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (5) sft in Oct '08.
Plenilune (IRE) 22-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, headway over 2f out, no extra, 6th of 13, 2 3/4l behind Royal Society (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Zeffirelli 6-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 11, 8l behind Stand In Flames (8-11) at Leicester 7f 3yo & 4yo sll (5) hvy in Aug.
Riverside 100-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, well behind over 2f out, never in contention, 9th of 13, 15l behind Why Nee Amy (8-5) at Beverley 1m app stks (6) gf in Sep.
Unconsoled 80-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, led 3f out, headed over 1f out, no impression, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Cape Quarter (9-3) at Southwell 7f 3yo mdn stks (5) fbs in Nov.
Dark Velvet (IRE) 100-1 (8-4) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, 14l behind Lovely Thought (9-4) at Catterick 6f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.
