held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, kept on same pace
led 1f, weakened over 2f out
tracked leader and keen, weakened over 2f out
slowly away, always behind
tracked leaders, went 3rd over 2f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, headway 3f out, faded over 1f out
held up mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden over 3f out, led entering final furlong, held on well
led after 1f, ridden and headed entering final furlong, kept on
dwelt, towards rear, weakened over 3f out
held up in touch, headway on outer 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd towards finish
held up mid-division, effort on outer over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
Richard Fahey has trained the last two winners but will be hoping the ground dries out for Mica Mika. Stablemate High Office handles soft ground but he hasn't won since 2011. There are also doubts about Maven and Mubtadi in soft going but War Poet could go well despite looking high enough in the weights. Dark Ruler and Handheld can be given a chance on last year's best efforts and the lightly-raced Hill Fort has outside claims back on a slow surface. TIGHT LIPPED is only 2lb higher than when scoring at Sandown last term and with a recent pipe-opener under his belt, James Eustace's charge should be bang there at the finish.
Maven 50-1 (8-13) Chased leader 1f, went 2nd again 3f out until ridden 2f out, soon edged left and weakened, 11th of 15, 5l behind Gworn (8-11) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct.
War Poet 3-1fav (9-6) Held up in touch, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 8l behind Hefner (9-8) at Doncaster 1m app hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Ardmay (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders on outside, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 16l behind Come On Blue Chip (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
San Cassiano (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 26l behind Asgardella (8-10) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) hvy in Oct.
Le Deluge (FR) (9-3) 7th of 18, 10l behind Seventh Sense (9-2) at Chantilly(FR) 1m 3yo hcp sft in Oct.
Ex Oriente (IRE) 100-1 (8-2) Slowly away towards rear, never near leaders, 14th of 23, 42l behind Conduct (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Mica Mika (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Led until 4f out, chased leader until over 3f out, pushed along and outpaced 3f out, rallied on inside 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on into 2nd post, not trouble winner, 2nd of 5, 2l behind The Lock Master (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Tight Lipped (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders on outside, ridden and one pace when hung right over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 13, 9l behind Squire Osbaldeston (9-6) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Emerald Wilderness (IRE) 40-1 (8-9) Took keen hold tracking leaders on inside, went 3rd well over 1f out until inside final furlong, faded, 5th of 13, 5l behind Rebellious Guest (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f hcap (2) pol.
Dark Ruler (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden when weakened 2f out, 7th of 10, 9l behind Silverware (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Handheld 3-1fav (8-13) Tracked leaders, joined leader 3f out, led 2f out, ridden and headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Falcon's Reign (8-8) at Newmarket 1m app hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Nov.
Zeus Magic 10-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, lost place 3f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 6th of 7, 6l behind Rundell (9-3) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jun.
Hard Core Debt 15-2 (9-1) Tracked leader, challenged over 3f out, soon ridden, lost place inside final 2f, behind final furlong, last of 6, 12l behind Nurpur (9-9) at York 1m 3yo app hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul.
Hill Fort 25-1 (9-2) Dwelt soon led, set steady pace, tried to quicken pace 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 12, 4l behind Munsarim (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
High Office 11-1 (9-0) Stumbled start, always towards rear, 8th of 10, 26l behind Muhtaris (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Special Mix 10-1 (9-4) Rearing in stalls, slowly into stride, headway to lead over 7f out, pushed laong over 2f out, soon headed, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 5l behind Mr Red Clubs (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Mubtadi 8-1 (9-5) Held up in rear, headway 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Spes Nostra (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Future Security (IRE) 7-2fav (8-13) Held up towards rear, effort over 2f out, never dangerous, 6th of 9, 10l behind Villa Royale (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
