chased leader, every chance over 2f out, not much room well over 1f out, soon weakened, eased inside final furlong
led, raced keenly, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon switched left, ridden to lead over 1f out, in command when edged left final furlong, ran on well
mid-division, pushed along halfway, soon behind, eased over 1f out, virtually pulled up
slowly into stride, soon switched left, held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
in rear, headway 1f out, never nearer
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong to take 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
prominent, pushed along halfway, ridden when hampered over 2f out, soon weakened
in touch, challenged over 2f out, hung left and lost 2nd well inside final furlong
prominent, raced keenly, every chance over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
A very poor opener where VANADIUM is taken to score from Lost All Alone and Royal Manor. The Gary Moore-trained selection was a course and distance winner from today's mark of 60 in October 2007 and did manage to win another race off 63 at Salisbury in the spring. He has not since managed to repeat those successes, but he is now given a chance again by the assessor and with the yard in form we will suggest him. Lost All Alone was a 6f Lingfield winner last time and retains the same lowly mark of 47 here. The step up in trip does not look ideal and he is typically inconsistent for one running in this grade so we will give him the swerve. Royal Manor looks to have more chance based on a hard fought 7f win at Lingfield last time and there may well be more to come from her, so she can give the selection most to do. It has been an age since Chookie Heiton won, and all his victories have come from higher marks than this. His chance of adding another notch on his CV is as good as it has ever been but we are still prepared to take him on. Epidaurian King has a course and distance win to his name but looks a bit high in the weights now and we'll take Vanadium to score.
Forzarzi (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Towards rear, plugged on towards finish, 7th of 13, 8l behind St Trinians (9-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Royal Manor 7-2fav (9-2) Made all, led and set good pace, ridden clear 1f out, ran on and held on well towards finish, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov beating Ugenius (8-12) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Kensington (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 8l behind Spiritina (9-3) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Chookie Heiton (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 2l behind Grand Palace (9-0) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Epidaurian King (IRE) 15-2 (9-4) Steadied start, pulled hard behind, ridden and effort 2f out, soon no impression on leaders, weakened final furlong, 8th of 12, 6l behind To Be Or Not To Be (8-9) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Provost 10-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, always behind, 9th of 14, 22l behind Rub of The Relic (8-4) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
Vanadium 9-4fav (9-2) Held up in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 5l behind Shunkawakhan (8-11) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Megalo Maniac 9-2 (8-9) Prominent over 3f out, 3rd entering straight, in lead inside final furlong, soon headed, kept on, 5th of 12, 3/4l behind Guildenstern (8-13) at W'hampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Thabaat 9-1 (8-7) Dwelt and in rear, headway and came wide straight, ran on take 2nd last strides, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Marmooq (8-10) at W'hampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Newpark Style (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 11th of 14, 7l behind Libras Child (8-8) at Dundalk 5f hcp 0-60 pol in Nov.
Flying Goose (IRE) 22-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, held up, always towards rear, 10th of 12, 9l behind Princely Hero (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
Lost All Alone 6-1 (8-2) Made virtually all, soon led, 2 lengths clear entering final furlong, ran on, held on well, won at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol beating Fantasy Fighter (8-4) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
