soon chasing leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
led to post, ran wide into straight, always behind
slowly away, carried wide into straight, always behind
soon chasing leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in mid-division, headway under pressure over 2f out, driven to take 3rd inside final 2f
slowly into stride, behind, headway on inside over 2f out, no extra final furlong
reluctant to race and in rear early, headway under pressure over 2f out, one pace and no impression final furlong
behind, headway under pressure over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
soon pushed along to hold prominent position, under pressure 3f out, soon weakened and eased
ridden in rear 3f out, never in contention
led, pushed 3 lengths clear 2f out, worn down and headed inside final furlong, soon no chance with winner
held up, headway on bit over 2f out, soon chasing clear leader, closed to lead inside final furlong, won going away
chased clear leader to over 2f out, soon weakened
Not a bad little handicap for the track and one that should chiefly concern Majestical, Sarah's Art and Joy And Pain, and Majestical gets the vote. Vinnie Smith's gelding remains on a mark of 54, having been turned over from the same rating on his last two starts. Even so, trip and track suit and he has done little wrong in those races, so he deserves to get his head in front. Sarah's Art was a c&d scorer last time but has been raised 5lb and bearing in mind her lack of consistency before that success, even over this 7f trip again, we are prepared to oppose. Joy And Pain won a minor Lingfield race over this distance last time but he also has to shoulder 5lb more now and as another inconsistent sort we will look elsewhere. Beneking looks best of the remainder, but Majestical can rule here.
Beneking 9-2 (8-9) Led for 1f, chased leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Blackmalkin (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Task Complete 12-1 (9-2) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, steadied towards rear over 5f out, not clear run over 1f out, soon switched left, no real impression, 7th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Vanadium (9-5) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Sarah's Art (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway 2f out, stayed on to lead close home, won at Kempton 7f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Sept beating Palais Polaire (9-5) by 1l, 13 ran.
Bens Georgie (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 16, 2l behind Memphis Man (9-3) at Yarmouth 6f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Oct.
Majestical (IRE) 11-2 (8-13) Steadied start, not clear run over 1f out, switched to outer, finished fast, just failed, unlucky, 3rd of 14, nk behind Quantum Leap (9-1) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Contented (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, led on rail inside final 2f, headed and not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Royal Envoy (9-2) at Kempton 7f stk 0-55 (6) pol in Oct.
Samahir (USA) 33-1 (8-12) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Hint of Spring (8-12) at Nottingham 1m 3yo mdn (5) gf in Oct.
Cabourg (IRE) 11-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, headed near finish, 2nd of 14, shd behind Spinning (9-1) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Oct.
Sibo Baggins (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 11, 10l behind Kassuta (7-12) at Yarmouth 1m clm (6) gs in Oct.
Joy And Pain 7-2jt-fav (8-12) Held up mid-division, good headway to lead 1f out, ridden clear inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-50 (6) pol beating Grand Assault (9-0) by 2l, 14 ran.
The Jailer 9-2 (8-6) Led until headed 1f out, weakened quickly inside final furlong, 9th of 11, 5l behind General Knowledge (9-6) at Kempton 1m clm (6) pol.
Faithful Ruler (USA) 16-1 (9-2) Went left start, towards rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 11, 2l behind Littledodayno (9-1) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol.
Smash N'Grab (IRE) 15-2 (8-12) Keen hold in mid-division, no impression on leaders when hampered on rail 1f out, 10th of 12, 13l behind Surprise Act (9-1) at Brighton 1m 3yo hcp (6) gs in Oct.
Strut The Stage (IRE) 14-1 (8-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and close up over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 6l behind Tanforan (8-4) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
