chased leaders, weakened after 6th
mid-division, lost place 4th, no danger after
chased leaders until weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, ridden 4 out, outpaced next
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, outpaced 4th, well behind 4 out, rallied after 2 out, stayed on to chase winner flat
close up, every chance 9th, outpaced 2 out, one pace flat
led to 4th, led 9th, headed last, no extra flat
held up, headway and prominent after 4 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway 4 out, every chance 3 out, led last comfortably
with leader, led 4th to 9th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
behind, effort under pressure 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, struggling 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
always behind
A dour staying contest here where finding the winner is by no means easy and we will side with Political Cruise as a sporting bet, with Sea Laughter a danger and both Storymaker and Newgate Suds others considered. The selection has not won for some time but relishes a trip and has won in heavy ground, two definite pluses as far as this race is concerned. He has plenty of miles on the clock but is now below his last winning mark and first time cheek pieces will undoubtedly concentrate his mind here more than of late, so we are prepared to chance him to small stakes. Sea Laughter is a more obvious choice after successive seconds, but on a line through Em¿s Royalty the chances of him finishing in front of the selection are by no means a done deal so he is opposed at lilely odds. Storymaker steps up from a two mile success last time to this 3m 3f and that is too much of a concern to make him a backable proposition, while Newgate Suds jumps and stays, but needs a drop from his already paltry rating to have a realistic chance, so for us the tentative choice is Political Cruise.
Rosalyons (IRE) 66-1 (10-6) Chased leaders to 3rd, struggling from halfway, beaten when pulled up 4 out in race won by Negus de Beaumont (11-2) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Westmorland (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Always behind, beaten when pulled up 5 out in race won by Em's Royalty (11-7) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy, 20 ran.
Sea Laughter (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 6th, stayed on to chase winner flat, no impression, 2nd of 20, 13l behind Em's Royalty (11-7) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy.
Network Oscar (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Always behind, 10th of 14, 38l behind Clock House (10-5) at Wetherby 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Teutonic (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up, hampered 7th, headway 9th, weakened on long run to 2 out, 10th of 14, 47l behind Idbury (11-11) at Worcester 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jul.
Crackleando 8-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, weakened 4 out, 6th of 7, 47l behind Bafana Boy (10-3) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Windygate (IRE) 4-1 (9-9) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Fearless Foursome (10-5) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec, 10 ran.
Political Cruise 6-1 (10-13) Behind from halfway, 6th of 12, 45l behind Young Smokey (11-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs (5) sft.
Smart Thinker 40-1 (10-5) In rear, not fluent 4th, reminders 8th, never dangerous, 5th of 6, 32l behind Top Cloud (10-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Storymaker 10-1 (10-0) Prominent, led approaching 3 out, stayed on well from last, won at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft beating Thatlldoforme (11-1) by 4l, 14 ran.
Wait For The Call (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Held up, ridden along 5th and fell 4 out in race won by Never So Blue (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec, 12 ran.
Lord Saar (IRE) 25-1 (9-12) Held up, headway 6th, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 20, 14l behind Em's Royalty (11-7) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy.
Little Sioux (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Behind, outpaced halfway, kept on under pressure from 2 out, never on terms, 6th of 16, 12l behind Andrea Gale (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Newgate Suds 20-1 (10-2) Outpaced 5th, kept on from 3 out, never on terms, 5th of 19, 26l behind Negus de Beaumont (11-10) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Nov.
