prominent, kept on inside final furlong
held up, headway over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish
in rear, never dangerous
held up, headway over 1f out, not much room entering final furlong, kept on
tracked leaders, weakened over 1f out
held up mid-division, pushed along and headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, headed towards finish
held up mid-division, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden 1f out, one pace
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
with leader, ridden 1f out, soon weakened
ONLY A GAME should be a warm order to beat Acrosstheuniverse and Peopleton Brook. The selection trounced a similarly modest field at the course just over a fortnight ago and off a 3lb higher mark, we expect a similar scenario to ensue. Acrosstheuniverse is the dark horse in this field. He has pulled a little hard for his own good but if Jeremy Gask has been able to sort out that issue at home, he could be potentially well handicapped. Peopleton Brook does not win as often as he should. He will head into this race off another solid placed effort. The Geester is arguably a better horse at Southwell so we will oppose this afternoon. Muktasb looked to have lost his way during the summer so the decision to draw stumps on his campaign was made. He has traditionally run well at this time of the year previously so it would be no surprise to see him attracting interest in the ring beforehand. Bollywood Style has been successful over seven furlongs in the past and connections seem keen to reinvent him as a sprinter these days. Only A Game is the call in a race requiring little to win it.
The Geester 7-1 (8-7) Awkward start, slowly into stride, never a factor, 8th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Fromsong (8-9) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Peopleton Brook 14-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden halfway, stayed on well final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Obe Gold (9-6) at Lingfield 6f sell stks (6) pol in Dec.
Muktasb (USA) 10-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, always in rear, last of 12, 17l behind Great Knight (9-2) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jun.
Only A Game (IRE) 3-1fav (8-13) Held up, came wide entering straight, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, pushed out near finish, won at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec beating The Name Is Frank (9-0) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Acrosstheuniverse (USA) 11-2 (8-12) Raced wide, in touch, ridden halfway, driven and kept on inside final furlong, never dangerous, 5th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Tongalooma (8-12) at Wolverhampton 5f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct.
Bollywood Style 16-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 7l behind Kipchak (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Jeannie (IRE) 66-1 (8-0) Slowly into stride, held up behind, never dangerous, 10th of 12, 7l behind Bertie Southstreet (8-5) at Wolverhampton 5f clm stks (6) pol in Oct.
Commandingpresence (USA) 16-1 (8-5) Went slightly right start, soon prominent, led 4f out, headed inside final furlong, faded, 7th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Only A Game (8-13) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Tenancy (IRE) 16-1 (8-4) Half reared start, pressed winner 4f, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 7l behind Angle Of Attack (8-11) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-50 (7) fbs in Dec.
Spring Bridge (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Well outpaced when ran wide on 1st turn, never on terms after, last of 7, 12l behind Edith's Boy (9-3) at Kempton 5f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Sep.
Brazilian Brush (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, kept on, not pace to challenge, 6th of 12, 5l behind Danum Dancer (9-1) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec.
