broke well, soon steadied to rear, smooth headway from over 1f out, effort to challenge winner inside final furlong, unable to quicken near finish
slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along halfway, ridden 3f out, driven and ran on strongly to snatch 3rd towards finish
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
raced wide, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
led 1f, taken back to track leaders soon after, ridden over 2f out, slightly outpaced approaching final furlong, driven and rallied to take 4th towards finish
held up, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on one pace
held up in rear, never a factor
close up, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace
led after 1f, ridden and headed narrowly over 2f out, weakened 1f out
tracked leader, joined leader halfway, ridden to lead narrowly over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
hampered start and dropped to rear, raced wide and held up, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
Nonrunner
The race of the day and FALCATIV is fancied to take it at the principal expense of Grand Vizier and Spinning. Marco Botti's charge has a fair enough draw under the circumstances and having won readily at Lingfield despite meeting with interference, we are hopeful that he is progressive enough to defy the handicapper's attentions. Grand Vizier is likely to have been campaigned with this engagement in mind. The horse has gone well fresh in the past so the absence should not really be an issue. Spinning has been a credit to the training skills of David Barron. This is his first foray to Kempton having raced previously on Wolverhampton's polytrack surface. Elna Bright is a reformed character these days and his Lingfield victory cannot be crabbed. Benandonner has been a very wise claim for Mike Murphy. This is a step up in grade though the horse has taken on similar assignments on turf in the past. Aeroplane is something of a law unto himself. Richard Evans will be under strict instructions not to hit the front until the last possible moment. Nezami was last seen when second in the Victoria Cup. Jon Akehurst's father was no stranger to laying one out for the big handicaps. Orchard Supreme has been a bitter disappointment this term though his marking now reflects that and were there to be any market confidence, he would have to be a player. A contest worthy of the entrance fee alone and Falcativ makes most appeal today.
Aeroplane 8-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, no rear impression, 6th of 11, 4l behind Dohasa (9-2) at Kempton 7f listed stks (1) pol.
Spinning 3-1fav (8-13) Dwelt, in rear, wide and headway approaching final furlong, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov beating Chapter And Verse (7-13) by 1l, 7 ran.
Falcativ 9-2 (8-11) Mid-division, not clear run from over 2f out, got clear approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on strongly to lead post, readily, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol beating Den's Gift (8-6) by nk, 10 ran.
Elna Bright 8-1 (8-10) Chased leading quartet, took closer order halfway, ridden to chase leader 1f out, driven to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov beating Jonny Mudball (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Benandonner (USA) 2-1fav (9-0) Tried to anticipate start and hit front of stalls, tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Lingfield 7f clm stks (6) pol beating Desert Dreamer (9-1) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Nezami (IRE) 50-1 (8-0) Chased leader on stand side, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on, held inside final furlong, 2nd of 27, 1 3/4l behind Swift Gift (8-5) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gf in May.
Stand Guard 11-2 (8-11) Keen, tracked leading pair, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 7l behind Bound By Honour (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
Grand Vizier (IRE) 20-1 (9-8) Slowly into stride, driven and soon in touch, chased winner over 2f out until inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 5th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Musleh (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Aug.
Bravo Echo 6-1 (9-0) Keen, prominent, chased leader halfway, ridden to lead 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Stoic (8-13) at Sandown 1m 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Sep.
The Scorching Wind (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Chased leaders 6f, 14th of 17, 20l behind Glowing Praise (8-13) at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep.
Orchard Supreme 7-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 6th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Falcativ (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
The Kyllachy Kid 8-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway when not clear run over 1f out, driven, kept on, not reached leaders, 5th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Caprio (8-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Nov.
