held up in rear, not trouble leaders
pulled hard, held up in rear, some headway over 3f out, soon weakened
always in rear
chased leaders over 7f
held up, switched right 6f out, headway to chase leader over 4f out, ridden and led 2f out, headed and kept on inside final furlong
chased leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
slowly into stride, held up, ridden and some headway well over 1f out, soon no impression
keen, mid-division, ridden and headway well over 1f out, soon hung right, ridden and ran on final furlong
pulled hard, held up, hampered 6f out, headway over 4f out, outpaced 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace
pulled hard, held up, never troubled leaders
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong
soon led, ridden and headed 2f out, no extra
in touch 8f
An interesting opener with a shortlist of Oakley Absolute, Karaoke, Admiral Compton and Blackmail, and we take Oakley Absolute to be good enough. The selection has never won here, though not through any problem with the surface, but Richard Hannon's colt was in fine form in the summer, and is capable of winning off this mark if picking up where he left off after a break. He goes well at the trip and we will take a chance that he'll be straight enough. It's been a long time between drinks for Karaoke, whose last win came over c & d off a 5lb higher mark 12 months ago. Strictly on how he has been running of late, he appears to have lost a bit of ability and has a bit to prove now. Admiral Compton won a maiden here off 77 in October of last year, so handles the track, but looks too high in the weights to win this, and the trip may be stretching his stamina too much, which is not the case with Blackmail. Brooke Sanders' gelding stays 12 furlongs and so a good pace here would suit. If he gets that then he can go close off this sort of mark, but for the winner we will stick with Oakley Absolute.
Battling Mac (IRE) 100-1 (8-10) Started slowly, always behind, wide into straight, never dangerous, last of 12, 9l behind Waterside (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Cherokee Nation 40-1 (9-3) Mid-division, soon lost place, never a factor, last of 14, 25l behind Wessex (9-4) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Nov.
Fabulous Emperor (IRE) 16-1 (8-4) Always in rear, 8th of 9, 41l behind Red Admiral (9-4) at Salisbury 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Admiral Compton 7-1 (8-13) Started slowly, towards rear, headway from 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 12, 3l behind Llamadas (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Karaoke (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Held up, headway 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 5l behind Wise Owl (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Willhego 20-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, ran on final furlong, nearest finish, 7th of 16, 6l behind Prime Powered (10-9) at Lingfield 1m 4f amt hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Eloquent Knight (USA) 14-1 (8-6) Close up, ridden to chase leader over 4f out, every chance over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 5th of 13, 2l behind Mi Odds (8-10) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Constructor 10-1 (8-12) Held up, not clear run over 1f out and again inside final furlong, squeezed through and ran on towards finish, 5th of 11, 2l behind Lake Chini (9-4) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Blackmail (USA) 4-1 (9-0) Never going well in rear, no chance final 2f, 6th of 10, 11l behind Casual Glance (8-2) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Oct.
Oakley Absolute 10-11fav (9-3) Tracked winner, chased winner 3f out, every chance approaching final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Atacama Star (9-3) at Brighton 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) frm in Jul.
In The Pink (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on, nearest finish, 6th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Midnight Lace (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f fll hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Jubilee Dream 16-1 (9-0) Prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened from 2f out, 9th of 11, 16l behind Paradise Mill (8-9) at Goodwood 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Sept.
Fortune Point (IRE) 40-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden when headed inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 11l behind Del Mar Sunset (9-12) at Brighton 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Postmaster 20-1 (8-8) Close up on outside, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, 16th of 17, 50l behind Princelywallywogan (8-7) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Oct.
