held up, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on to lead inside final furlong, ridden out
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, close up approaching final furlong, one pace
always in rear
towards rear, headway, not clear and hampered over 3f out, kept on again towards finish
led, ridden 2f out, weakening when headed over 1f out
keen, tracking leaders, hampered after start, ridden and weakened 3f out, soon eased
The best race on the card this listed contest, but disappointing only seven will face the starter, from which we'll side with DANSANT, who's likely to face strong challenge from Re Barolo and Suits Me. The selection won a similarly listed event at Kempton last month, when sitting just off the pace, and with four wins from six all-weather outings, there are no doubts at all about handling the surface. The trip is his optimum too, and there are far more positives about him than the negative of being top weight, but he's not giving much away. Trainer and jockey both come here for this one race. Suits Me is aiming for a five timer, the last three wins coming on the all-weather in decent handicaps. Expect Micky Fenton, his only scheduled ride on the card, to attempt to make all. Re Barolo hasn't won any of his last five outings, and never at this his highest ever official rating. Marco Botti knows how to get them ready for this sort of race though. Harvest Queen can't be ruled out, finishing ahead of Re Barolo and Grand Passion when they all last ran a month ago. It could be an early Christmas cracker of a race, with, in our opinion, Dansant set to land the money.
Dansant 5-1 (9-8) Steadied start, held up in mid-division, going well and ridden to lead over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, driven out, won at Kempton 1m 4f lst stk (1) pol in Nov beating Les Fazzani (9-3) by 2l, 11 ran.
Bon Spiel 6-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, always held by winner, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Suits Me (9-10) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Grand Passion (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, struggling over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 11, 7l behind Yahrab (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stk (1) pol in Nov.
Re Barolo (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Raced keenly behind mid-division, short of room and checked on rail over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on well final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 11, 2l behind Yahrab (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stk (1) pol in Nov.
Suits Me 3-1fav (9-10) Made all, set steady pace, shaken up and quickened, 2 lengths clear over 1f out, pushed out final furlong, always holding rivals, won at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol beating Bon Spiel (8-9) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Scintillo 8-1 (9-0) Prominent, ridden and chased leaders 2f out, no headway over 1f out and weakened, 9th of 11, 16l behind Dansant (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f lst stk (1) pol in Nov.
Harvest Queen (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Behind in touch, slightly hampered on rail over 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong , not reach leading pair, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Yahrab (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stk (1) pol in Nov.
