held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on well to lead towards finish
tracked leaders, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, weakened towards finish
held up towards rear, ridden and kept on inside final furlong
dwelt, led and keen, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led inside final furlong, no extra and headed towards finish
very slowly, virtually refused to race, tailed off
always towards rear
dwelt, rider lost irons, behind, tailed off
removed hood late, slowly away, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong
This looks quite competitive but George Baker has to go on the short-list as he made the most of his inside draw over 1m here last month and has the one stall again. Atlantis Crossing was second over C&D at the same meeting and is another to consider while Delft will have her supporters. Jeremy Noseda's filly was only beaten half-a-length by Schoolmaster at Lingfield last month and is just a pound higher now. Top weight Rustic Deacon and Friday's Wolverhampton second Roy The Boy are others with claims but FANTASY GLADIATOR will surely take advantage of a tumbling mark before much longer and should get the fast pace he requires in this. With Michael Murphy taking off 5lb, Robert Cowell's charge gets the nod.
Rustic Deacon 12-1 (8-8) Took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 9l behind Validus (9-5) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Head Of Steam (USA) 10-1 (8-13) Chased leaders 2f, mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, no impression, 4th of 11, 5l behind York Glory (9-4) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Good Authority (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 7th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Schoolmaster (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Delft 11-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on, not pace to challenge, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Schoolmaster (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Prince Of Burma (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Always in rear, 10th of 12, 11l behind Hefner (9-1) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jul.
Irish Heartbeat (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Mid-division, driven over 2f out, never on terms, 9th of 12, 11l behind Diescentric (8-13) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Shifting Star (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden and lost place over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 11l behind Embankment (8-13) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Haaf A Sixpence 15-8fav (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f over, clipped heels when stumbled badly and unseated rider over 2f out, in a race won by Apostle (9-7) at Salisbury 7f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) sft in May, 8 ran.
Caldercruix (USA) 16-1 (9-5) Dwelt, in touch, pushed along over 2f out, one pace, 8th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Piscean (9-3) at Newmarket 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Summerinthecity (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) Mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 11, 10l behind Cockney Dancer (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Fantasy Gladiator 14-1 (8-11) Mid-division on inside, headway 2f out, ridden to chase leaders 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure inside final furlong, went 4th near finish, 4th of 11, 5l behind Embankment (8-13) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Roy The Boy (USA) 7-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Living Leader (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Atlantis Crossing (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Dwelt, held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, held towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Good Luck Charm (9-5) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
George Baker (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Led 1f, chased leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov beating Diplomatic (8-9) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
