held up in touch, wide and headway over 2f out, soon led, ridden 2 lengths clear approaching final furlong, headed final 75 yards, no extra
steadied start in rear, plenty to entering final 2f, hung left and ran on final furlong, nearest finish
held up, headway on inner entering final furlong, ridden and ran on, not reach winner
took keen hold prominent, led 8f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
led 2f, tracked leader until ridden 2f, kept on one pace final furlong
slow into stride, pushed along to soon be in touch, headway over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, driven to lead final 75 yards, all out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on
dwelt in rear, wide and headway over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place over 2f out
dwelt towards rear, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish
A highly competitive renewal with most of these old foes. BATTALION has the best recent form with success in a similar Listed contest over track and trip at the start of the month when beating Energia Davos. The latter was runner-up in last year's renewal won by Grendisar and Marco Botti's charge went close here last time with French raider Metropol in close attendance and Don't Be further behind. Man Of Harlech and Lamar continue to improve though the former is upped in class and latter steps back up in trip after scoring over 7f. The remainder are decent handicappers on the all-weather but have a tough task on today's terms while the lightly-raced maiden winner Real Smart will need to be just that to get involved in this company.
Energia Davos (BRZ) 9-2 (9-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, slightly outpaced over 1f out, driven and rallied inside final furlong, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Battalion (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (2) pol in Dec.
Battalion (IRE) 11-4 (9-7) Dwelt close up in 4th, headway on outer to track leader over 4f out, led 2f out, ridden and drifted left final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (2) pol in Dec beating Energia Davos (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Grendisar (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Held up, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on, not reach winner, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Let's Go (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Man Of Harlech 7-4fav (9-10) Keen close up, switched right 3f out, headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, idled near finish, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Nov beating Aleator (8-11) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Metropol (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 14, 3/4l behind Let's Go (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Don't Be (8-13) 7th of 16, 1 1/2l behind Vodkato (8-13) at Deauville 1m 1f lst (1) pol in Dec.
Hawke (IRE) (8-12) 5th of 16, 1 1/4l behind Vodkato (8-13) at Deauville 1m 1f lst (1) pol in Dec.
Lamar (IRE) 3-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd halfway, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, hung badly right well inside final furlong, held on, won at Wolverhampton 7f fll stks (2) pol in Nov beating Kyllachy Queen (9-2) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Sequester (8-10) 12th of 16, 5 1/4l behind Vodkato (8-13) at Deauville 1m 1f lst (1) pol in Dec.
Starlit Cantata 6-1 (8-10) Prominent, led over 1f out, headed towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Franklin D (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Phyllis Maud (IRE) 2-1fav (8-11) Led, ridden 3 f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 8 1/4l behind Wordiness (10-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Real Smart (USA) 4-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, readily, won at Lingfield 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Fallen For A Star (9-5) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.