behind, headway 2f out, stayed on strongly, never nearer
towards rear, driven 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly to join leader post
chased leaders, hard ridden to challenge over 1f out, soon every chance, no extra close home
led, ridden and challenged from 2f out, kept on well, joined post
with leader, ridden to challenge over 2f out, soon every chance, weakened approaching final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, some headway over 1f out, never on terms
in touch, pushed along halfway, never able to challenge
prominent, driven over 4f out, soon lost place
behind, headway over 2f out, soon no impression
always behind
A visor is tried on ROCKFIELD LODGE and Ian Williams' gelding is narrowly preferred to Kinigi. The selection is fancied to improve for the fitting of the new headgear as a lot of Stravinsky's seem to show improved form, as he himself did for wearing the visor. His recent third to My Sweet Georgia looks fairly solid form at this level and over the same course and distance he can prevail. Angle Of Attack and Distant Dreamer need market checks returning from little breaks, The Wily Woodcock is wildly out of form however he has plummeted down the weights and is now ridden by David Probert, whilst Safaseef and Camerooney both try some headgear for the first time this afternoon. Cause For Applause shaped with promise at Wolverhampton two starts back but was then well-held their later in the month, whilst Headache and Kinigi are two of the more consistent runners in the line-up and are likely to each run their race. The well-handicapped Convince is another to consider, however it is Rockfield Lodge who is nominated.
Straight Face (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 14, 13l behind Naomh Geileis (9-4) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Nov.
Convince (USA) 13-2 (9-0) In rear, ridden over 4f out, came wide entering straight, stayed on final furlong, never dangerous, 5th of 12, 9l behind Punching (9-3) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Nov.
Kinigi (IRE) 10-1 (8-8) In rear, pushed along halfway, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to go 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Diamond Blade (9-1) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Headache 5-1 (8-4) Chased leader, pushed along half way, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 7th of 13, 5l behind Copperwood (8-11) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Rockfield Lodge (IRE) 6-1 (8-11) Prominent, ridden 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind My Sweet Georgia (9-4) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Nov.
Angle of Attack (IRE) 33-1 (9-1) Raced far side, chased leaders, ridden halfway, soon weakened, 16th of 17, 20l behind Lithaam (8-10) at Nottingham 5f hcp 0-55 (6) gd in Aug.
Cause For Applause (IRE) 25-1 (8-8) Chased leader, ridden well over 1f out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, 11l behind Head First (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Camerooney 3-1fav (8-8) Held up, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 13, 11l behind Bidable (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Nov.
Marina's Ocean 20-1 (9-1) Mid-division, improved to 4th 6f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 17l behind Sircozy (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks 0-55 (6) pol in Nov.
Safaseef (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 9th of 11, 9l behind Final Drive (9-1) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Distant Dreamer (USA) 20-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 9th of 10, 20l behind Bawaardi (9-1) at Lingfield 7f mdn stks (5) gs in Sep.
The Wily Woodcock 125-1 (9-12) Very slowly away, always behind, last of 14, 23l behind Prince Golan (10-6) at Southwell 1m Amateur Handicap (0-60) (3yo+) (6) fbs in Nov.
