quickly away, made all, clear 2f out, unchallenged
chased winner for 1f, prominent, driven to take moderate 2nd inside final furlong until last 100 yards
raced wide towards rear, pulled up 2f out, dismounted
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, driven over 1f out, no response
held up in mid-division, driven and headway on inside over 1f out, went 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with unchallenged winner
slowly into stride, rear, headway on ouside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, finished well
mid-division, driven and headway over 1f out, not reached leaders
soon pushed along in rear, never in contention
chased winner after 1f until over 2f out, weakened quickly
behind, made some late headway, never dangerous
Kevin Ryan's RIVER THAMES looks good on these terms to beat rivals Autumn Blades and The Game. This may be a step up in class from his last time out victory but the five-year-old is still rated four pounds lower than his turf mark and seven pounds lower on his best on this surface. He also receives weight all round here and that last victory came with plenty in hand so he looks really well placed to follow up with another win. Autumn Blades, on the other hand, is back to a career high mark after a decent outing at Wolverhampton over a longer trip last time. In the past this rating has been enough to stop him winning and that looks to be the case again with the shorter trip not his best although he should challenge. The Game was a winner in a better contest at Newmarket in July but has struggled to produce that sort of form on the polytrack in the past. His latest outing put some of those doubts to one side with a decent display over course and distance when second of 11 after a three months break. He'll be sharper from this but will have to concede weight all round. Brandywell Boy looks set for at least a place judged on recent efforts but to win it we go with River Thames.
The Game 9-1 (8-13) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Internationaldebut (9-6) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Dvinsky (USA) 20-1 (8-8) Pressed leader to over 3f out, weakened quickly over 2f out, 11th of 12, 17l behind Resplendent Nova (8-6) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Nov.
Shustraya 33-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 5l behind Internationaldebut (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Parisian Gift (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, lost place well over 1f out, no impression after, 6th of 11, 7l behind Alexander Huricane (9-6) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Count Ceprano (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden on outside 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, 10th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Smokey Rye (8-9) at Kempton 1m clm (6) pol in Oct.
He's A Humbug (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, edged left and right over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, eased, 7th of 11, 5l behind Yungaburra (9-1) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
Autumn Blades (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, switched right well over 1f out, chased winner final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Alexander Huricane (9-6) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Secret Dubai (IRE) (8-5) 15th of 16, more than 2l behind Sgiaff (8-7) at Merano 1m hcp gs in Aug.
Brandywell Boy (IRE) 5-1fav (9-1) Soon prominent, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance, not quicken and one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 2l behind Chjimes (9-4) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Luscious Lips 8-1 (8-13) Mid-division and keen, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 3l behind Miesko (9-3) at Bath 5f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Oct '07.
River Thames 2-1fav (9-4) In touch, quicken to lead just over 1f out, ridden and soon clear, comfortably, won at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov beating Muktasb (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
