keen hold and prominent when fell 1st
in touch, headway to track leading pair 5th, chasing clear leader when hit 2 out, 5 lengths down when hit last, stayed on strongly flat to lead towards finish
held up in mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, 4th and no chance when blundered last
always behind, tailed off 5th pulled up before 3 out
always behind, ridden and struggling well before 3 out
chased leaders in 4th, weakened and struggling next, well behind when blundered 2 out
in touch, until ridden and weakened before 2 out
in rear when blundered and nearly unseated rider 3rd, tailed off when blundered before 2 out
mid-division, until ridden and weakened before 3 out
chased leaders in 3rd until 5th, weakened under pressure next
led, 6 lengths clear when hit 2 out, ridden and 5 lengths ahead when hit last, driven flat, caught towards finish
rear division, mistake 3rd, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch until 4th, weakened and behind from 3 out
raced without tonguestrap, chased leader, weakened before 5th, well behind before hit 2 out
rear division, moderate headway from 2 out, but never in contention
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before next
held up in mid-division, nudged along when blundered 2 out, kept on steadily after but never near to challenge
keen hold and always behind
behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, went 2nd 5th, driven after 3 out, no chance with front pair well before last
always behind, tailed off, fell last
behind, headway approaching last, never reached challenging position
The vote here goes to Vinando, his biggest dangers reckoned to be Craven, Cruise Director and Naja de Billeron. The interesting one for us here is the Cesarewitch fourth, and later Listed placed, Vinando. From a canny yard, a positive market vibe should be noted. Craven came good on his bumper debut and, bred to be good at this game, should be watched in the betting with interest. An 82-rated 12-furlong Flat winner, Willie Musson's Cruise Director looks interesting, while Harcourt is the type that could take to this game, although he was entered to run at Warwick yesterday. The 64-rated Flat winner High Charter could go well, while Naja de Billeron has to be considered based on his French form and is respected, along with the low-60s rated mile Flat winner Smoothly Does It. Finally, Talikos has shown some promise, Tech Eagle disappointed last time but had shown good promise at Taunton the time before. Bumper winner Tell Henry is another to give some thought to, while Charlie Egerton's second-string, Stocking Island can't be ruled out of things. Overall, though, we prefer his stable companion, Vinando.
Back Among Friends 10-1 (11-11) Keen and soon prominent, led briefly after 2f, chased leader until ridden and weakened 2f out, 4th of 14, 11l behind Sommelier (11-4) at Chepstow 2m nhf (H) sft in Mar.
Craven (IRE) 8-11fav (11-4) Held up up towards rear, ridden 3f out, ran on from 2f out, challenged final furlong, led on line, won at Wincanton 2m nhf (H) gd in Nov beating Commander Kev (10-13) by a shd, 12 ran.
Cruise Director 16-1 (9-12) In touch until weakened over 1f out, 16th of 17, 14l behind Indian Pipe Dream (8-13) at Haydock 1m6f gd-sft in Sept.
Fleet Anchor 4-1 (8-12) Held up, in touch until weakened over 2f out, 6th of 8, 12l behind Thornaby Green (8-12) at Southwell 1m stk (7) fbs in Nov (Flat).
Gimmeabreak (IRE) 6-4fav (12-0) won at Belclare 3m ir pt-to-pt yielding in March beating Eurotech (12-0) by 2l, 13 ran.
Go Commercial (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, effort over 4f out, no further progress, 13th of 19, 27l behind Leading Contender (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m nhf lst (A) gs in Nov.
Harcourt (USA) 16-1 (9-10) Dwelt, recovered to lead after 1f, headed 4f out, weakened rapidly and eased 2f out, 12th of 13, well behind Magic Sting (9-7) at Windsor 1m 2f clm (5) gs in Aug (Flat).
Herakles (GER) 20-1 (11-0) Led until after 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 14, 26l behind Natal (11-8) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (C) gd in Nov.
High Charter 10-3 (10-12) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, soon beaten, weakened rapidly and pulled up at the last in race won by Hoh Viss (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (E) hvy in Nov, 13 ran.
Judge'n'thomas 33-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, 12th of 13, well behind Pairtree (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f nhf (H) gf in May.
Naja De Billeron (FR) (10-3) Prominent, led last, headed near finish, 2nd of 20, 2l behind Monselet Bastille (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl in Nov.
Once (FR) 20-1 (9-5) Chased leader until ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 11l behind Bienheureux (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp (F4) pol (Flat).
Private Be 10-11fav (10-12) Hung left throughout, led, headed approaching 3 out, soon ridden, every chance 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 16, 12l behind Black Hills (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (D) gs in Nov.
Prizeman (USA) 66-1 (8-7) In touch, weakened over 3f out, last of 13, 25l behind Notable Guest (8-5) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Apr (Flat).
Pure Magic (FR) 66-1 (11-2) Pulled hard in rear, always behind and pulled up 3 out in race won by Coach Lane (10-11) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (E) hvy, 11 ran.
Roussea (IRE) (12-0) won at Ballingarry 3m ptp gs in May beating Kings Promotion (12-0) by a nk, 13 ran.
Smoothly Does It 100-1 (10-12) Pulled hard early, mid-division, ridden 6th, kept on from 3 out, 5th of 14, 16l behind Natal (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (C) gd.
Talikos (FR) 200-1 (11-0) Hampered 1st, mid-division, headway after 3 out, every chance next, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 14l behind Barton Park (11-0) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Nov.
Tech Eagle (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Took keen hold in touch, weakened 3 out, no chance when hit last, 12th of 16, 26l behind Anticipating (11-5) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (D) gd in Nov.
Tell Henry (IRE) 6-5fav (11-4) Pulled hard in rear, headway to lead after 2f, clear after 4f, ran on well, won at Ludlow 2m nhf (H) gf in Oct beating Sweep Home (11-4) by 7l, 9 ran.
Valleyofthekings (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Always behind, tailed off final 4f, 8th of 9, well behind Tell Henry (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nhf (H) gf in Oct.
Vibe 9-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 7l behind Three Ships (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Nov (Flat).
Vinando (9-1) Prominent, every chance, no extra final furlong, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Le Carre (9-4) at Saint-Cloud 1m 7f stk in Nov (Flat).
Heathers Girl 20-1 (8-13) Held up, headway 5f out, weakened over 3f out, 9th of 12, 18l behind Typhoon Tilly (9-7) at W'hampton 1m 6f clm (F4) pol in Nov '04 (Flat).
Stocking Island 5-1 (8-8) Went 2f then pulled up in race won by Dundry (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn aut stk (F4) pol in Sept '04, 9 ran (Flat).
