in rear, ridden over 1f out, edged left and kept on inside final furlong, nearest finish
dwelt held up, headway inside final furlong, nearest finish
tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, weakened final furlong
raced wide tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, short of room towards finish
close up, pushed along over 1f out, ridden and kept on one pace
in rear, wide and headway inside final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead towards finish
in touch, wide and headway over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed towards finish
in touch, pushed along over 1f out, effort inside final furlong, keeping on when short of room towards finish
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakening when short of room inside final furlong
raced wide held up, headway 2f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong
raced wide pressed leader until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
NonRunner
Knockout Blow won over track and trip last time but makes less appeal back up in the weights and the runner-up PORTO FERRO is taken to turn the tables. The latter re-opposes on better terms and finally looks set to exploit a tumble down the weights. A change of headgear and an apprentice’s allowance helped Mercers return to winning ways at Kempton while Catheadans Fury finished ahead of Bernie's Boy when going close at Chelmsford. Broughton Excels could go well returning to the Polytrack after a below-par effort at Newcastle.
Black Isle Boy (IRE) 25-1 (9-6) Pressed leader, driven and lost place over 3f out, weakened and eased final furlong, 11th of 12, 22 1/2l behind Bee Machine (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Catheadans Fury 7-1 (9-3) Bumped start, mid-division on inside, headway over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, just held, 2nd of 12, hd behind Kath's Lustre (9-2) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Broughton Excels 9-2 (9-6) Held up, headway over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 14, 7 3/4l behind Herringswell (9-4) at Newcastle 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Perfect Symphony (IRE) 40-1 (9-5) Always behind, last of 14, 9 3/4l behind Calin's Lad (9-7) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Little Miss Lilly 4-1 (9-7) Dwelt towards rear, ridden 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 10, 4 1/4l behind Mercers (9-3) at Lingfield 5f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Knockout Blow 4-1 (9-3) Dwelt raced wide in touch towards rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov beating Porto Ferro (9-4) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Bernie's Boy 40-1 (9-2) Chased leaders on outside, wide on home turn, soon led, headed well inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 5th of 12, 1 1/4l behind Kath's Lustre (9-2) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Mercers 22-1 (9-2) In rear, headway over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, ran on, won at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Oct beating Independence Day (9-2) by 1l, 12 ran.
Porto Ferro (IRE) 10-3fav (9-4) Raced wide close up, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Knockout Blow (9-3) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Dreamboat Annie 6-1 (8-2) Close up, chased leader 3f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Kodiline (8-11) at Lingfield 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Celerity (IRE) 100-1 (8-7) Raced wide close up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Chitra (9-8) at Lingfield 5f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Nautical Haven 20-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, in rear, driven over 2f out, no impression until stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 11, 4l behind Lalania (9-5) at Chelmsford City 5f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
