led, not always fluent, mistake 6th, headed 4 out, still 2nd but looked beaten when fell 3 out
prominent, not fluent 1st, 2nd from 4th, led 4 out, idled flat, driven out
held up towards rear, headway 6th, left 2nd 3 out, challenged 2 out, held close home
pressed leader until 4th, ridden 8th, beaten when left 3rd briefly 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, hampered 5th, went 3rd after 3 out, no impression on front pair, stayed on flat, closing towards finish
in rear, struggling when not fluent 8th, soon lost touch
not fluent, tracked leaders until fell 5th
Soft going is a bit of an unknown for Oliver's Gold and Sedgefield second Vital Evidence. It doesn't really suit Domtaline but FESTIVE AFFAIR should cope and wouldn't need to improve much on his latest third at Ascot to add to his two wins to date. King Of The Wolds will probably find this too short and is still 3lb higher than his last winning mark but Starkie wouldn't be far away on his best form and makes more appeal than Treat Yourself.
King Of The Wolds (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Disputed lead until after 2 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Johnny Og (11-6) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Festive Affair (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway approaching 8th, chased leaders 3 out, hard ridden to challenge next, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Quite By Chance (11-1) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
Oliver's Gold 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 2 out, kept on and no impression, 4th of 8, 17 1/2l behind Imjoeking (11-11) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Starkie 9-1 (11-4) Pressed leader, led 5th, made most after, strongly pressed from 3 out, kept slight advantage until headed and outpaced final 100 yards, no extra and lost two places in closing stages, 4th of 8, 3 3/4l behind Ultragold (11-12) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Domtaline (FR) 17-2 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway before 2 out to go 3rd, plugged on one pace, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Imjoeking (11-11) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Treat Yourself (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 7th, never dangerous, last of 8, dist behind Imjoeking (11-11) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Vital Evidence (USA) 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, in 3rd, ridden before 2 out, every chance before last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Volvalien (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
