behind, headway over 2f out, ran on to lead just inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home
held up, mid-division, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, stayed on strongly to lead towards finish
held up, mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon no impression
held up, in touch, hard driven over 2f out, never on terms
held up, towards rear, headway 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on
pulled hard early, prominent, led over 4f out, driven clear over 3f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong
held up, in touch, pushed along over 4f out, soon chasing leader, stayed on well final furlong
led until over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
held up, towards rear, hard ridden over 2f out, soon beaten
LEYTE GULF gets the nod here ahead of Starburst and Augustus John. Chris Bealby's gelding comes here in good form, having finished in the top three in his last five starts. His handicap mark has edged up as a result but he has a pull in the weights with Augustus John for their running here last time and he can reverse the placings. Augustus John hasn't been harshly treated for that win with just a 3lb rise in the weights, and again his consistency is the key to expecting another bold effort. Pocket Too is tumbling down the weights, whilst Resplendent Ace is more edging down slowly to a nice mark and the market needs to be watched there. Estate has been behind both Augustus John and Leyte Gulf of late, Starburst is a course winner but has stamina to prove on this first try at the trip, whilst Motarjm is thrown in on his old form. At the bottom of the weights Wabbraan looks nicely-weighted as he steps back up in trip, however we are happy to side with Leyte Gulf as the selection.
Resplendent Ace (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Held up in rear, weakened approaching 2f out, last of 5, 11l behind Oxford City (9-1) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Augustus John (IRE) 4-1 (9-4) Keen, tracked leaders, led well over 3f out, ridden and joined over 1f out, driven out gainly, won at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan beating Leyte Gulf (9-6) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Leyte Gulf (USA) 7-4fav (9-6) Slowly into stride, held up, improved to 4th after 4f, going well over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Augustus John (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.
Estate 9-1 (9-5) Pulled hard, held up, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never dangerous, 5th of 8, 4l behind Augustus John (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.
Starburst 4-1fav (9-6) Very slow away, headway over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Gargano (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Motarjm (USA) 50-1 (9-1) Mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 10, 29l behind Mildoura (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) std in Nov.
Weybridge Light 6-1 (9-1) Set steady pace, headed after 4f, tracked leader until over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 8, 2 3/4l behind Augustus John (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.
Wabbraan (USA) 20-1 (8-6) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 12, 13l behind Gargano (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Boogie Dancer 14-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, always behind, 8th of 13, 6l behind Turkish Sultan (8-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Jan.
Pocket Too 6-1 (9-9) Led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 15l behind Kristallo (9-0) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
