mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, nearest finish
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, chased leaders approaching final furlong, never on terms
hampered start, held up, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, faded final furlong
led, hung right under pressure over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra
slowly into stride, held up, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, ran on into 2nd inside final furlong, never reached winner
prominent, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, lost place well over 1f out
went right start, always behind
chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led entering final furlong, ran on well
Game Player ran well on his reappearance at this level at Newmarket then dropped a grade to run out and easy winner at Lingfield. The runner-up has won subsequently so Roger Varian's grey should make a bold bid to defy a 5lb rise. Raucous won on the track a year ago and has been going well in strong all-weather handicaps while LOVE DREAMS (NAP) won this last year when making all. Mark Johnston's charge has returned from Dubai in fine form and as he's 5lb lower than a year ago looks the one to beat. George Of Hearts has only won once and that was on Polytrack though he's gradually slipping to a winnable mark but Apex King was behind the selection earlier this month.
Zhui Feng (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Chased leading pair, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 12 1/4l behind Wadilsafa (9-0) at Sandown 1m lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Makzeem 12-1 (9-5) Raced centre, slowly into stride, held up towards rear, some headway hanging right over 1f out, never threatened, 18th of 27, 6 1/2l behind Burnt Sugar (9-2) at Ascot 7f hcp stks (2) gf in Jul.
Raucous 8-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Victory Wave (9-3) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (2) pol in May.
Love Dreams (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Led, driven over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home, 4th of 14, 2 1/4l behind What's The Story (9-5) at York 1m hcp (2) gf in May.
Game Player (IRE) 11-8fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, stayed on to challenge inside final 2f, soon ridden, led entering final furlong, driven out, in command inside final 100 yards, won at Lingfield 7f hcp (3) gd in May beating Pettifogger (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
George Of Hearts (FR) 14-1 (8-4) Mid-division near side of group, headway 2f out, weakened final furlong, 13th of 26, 6 1/4l behind Cape Byron (9-3) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gs in May.
Rum Runner 8-1 (9-9) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 5 1/4l behind Diocles Of Rome (9-1) at Kempton 7f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Intransigent 25-1 (8-11) Raced wide close up, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Keyser Soze (9-7) at Lingfield 7f hcp (2) pol in Jan.
Apex King (IRE) 7-1 (8-11) Raced keenly, tracked leader, lost 2nd 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 5 1/2l behind Kimifive (8-13) at Goodwood 7f hcp (2) gd in May.
