held up, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, not trouble leaders
led, ridden and headed 1f out, one pace
prominent on outside, weakened well over 1f out
mid-division on outside, well behind final 3f
soon outpaced, switched left to inside 1f out and headway, eased when no chance well inside final furlong
prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, behind, short lived effort over 2f out, never dangerous
held up, headway on inside well over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, ran on strongly to lead close home
slowly into stride, soon driven into mid-division, weakened well over 1f out
prominent, driven over 2f out, faded inside final furlong
mid-division, driven and headway over 2f out, kept on well inside final furlong, not trouble front 2
Another tough race to call here for punters with very little between many of the leading lights but the principals look to be Bonus. Fromsong and Middleton Grey and the narrow vote is given to Bonus. The selection won well last time out when beating Further Outlook and although he has a penalty for that win he looks sure to have the race run to suit and he looks the value bet in an open affair. Fromsong rates the main danger as he also won well last time when beating Fyodor but this looks more competitive and he looks vulnerable off his revised mark. Middleton Grey is another that could go well but although he won last time out the second has since let the form down and he looks opposable on that basis. Of the remainder Green Manalishi looks weighted up to his best while Kostar is from a yard in form and could go well at a price but in a race that throws up more questions than answers for the winner we return to Bonus.
Green Manalishi 4-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 6l behind Sierra Vista (8-7) at Newmarket 5f hcp 0-110 (2) sft in Oct.
Yomalo (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Soon outpaced, pushed along, headway over 1f out, switched right, ran on final furlong, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Celtic Mill (9-4) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-100 (2) fbs in Nov.
Fromsong (IRE) 5-2 (9-4) Tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, edged right near finish, won at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov beating Fyodor (8-11) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Middleton Grey 5-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, held up well in rear, ran on final furlong, led near finish, won at Newmarket 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Aug beating Sir Edwin Landseer (8-10) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Bonus (IRE) 3-1co-fav (9-6) Tracked leaders going well, challenged 2f out, hard ridden to lead inside final furlong, edged left, driven out, won at Windsor 6f clm (5) gd in Aug beating Further Outlook (8-11) by a hd, 9 ran.
Kostar 15-2 (9-6) Slowly into stride, held up, headway to chase leaders 4f out, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 15th of 17, 13l behind Kodiac (9-1) at Newbury 6f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Desperate Dan 12-1 (8-7) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home, 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Celtic Mill (9-4) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-100 (2) fbs in Nov.
Looks Could Kill (USA) 13-2 (9-2) Slowly into stride, headway on inside over 1f out, not reach winner, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Chateau Nicol (9-4) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
