tracked leader, led approaching 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, no extra close home
towards rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, nearest finish
held up, headway over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ridden out
raced wide close up, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
keen in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, pushed along 2f out, never a factor
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on close home
close up, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd final strides
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
held up, ridden and headway 2f out, no impression final furlong
slowly away always in rear
close up, ridden and weakened over 1f out
Hooflepuff held on to win by only a neck at Wolverhampton recently and carries a 6lb penalty. Sulafaat went close over track and trip on a couple of occasions in September only to disappoint back here last time while Mamdood won here in October but finished well behind Hooflepuff on his latest start. Sunhill Lad finished runner-up in an even lower grade than this at Wolverhampton last month and a purely speculative vote goes to ACCESSOR, who predictably struggled dropped back to a mile last time but had finished closer over course and distance before that and is fitted with headgear today
Hooflepuff (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, switched right over 2f out, soon led and kicked on, held on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Nov beating Henry Croft (9-9) by nk, 12 ran.
Thawry 17-2 (9-2) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, not clear run inside final furlong, soon beaten, 9th of 13, 3 3/4l behind First Dance (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Sulafaat (IRE) 7-2 (9-7) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon lost place, 8th of 13, 8 1/2l behind Mamdood (9-1) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Imperial Focus (IRE) 22-1 (9-2) Behind, driven and some headway far side over 1f out, soon ridden, never near leaders, 11th of 13, 7 1/4l behind Swansdown (9-5) at Newcastle 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Anchises 33-1 (9-7) Always towards rear, 13th of 14, 17 1/4l behind Menin Gate (9-3) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Mamdood (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Held up in touch in mid-division, ridden and effort over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, 8th of 12, 11 1/2l behind Hooflepuff (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Sunhill Lad (IRE) 7-2fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Herm (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f stks (6) pol in Nov.
Nearly There 25-1 (9-3) Held up, always towards rear, outpaced over 2f out, 13th of 14, 27l behind Smart Lass (9-2) at Musselburgh 1m 5f hcp (6) sft in Oct.
Spark Of War (IRE) 11-2 (9-2) Raced wide in rear, pushed along over 3f out, never a factor, 9th of 13, 10l behind Gerry The Glover (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Accessor (IRE) 11-1 (8-12) Always towards rear, 11th of 12, 10l behind Hindaam (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Gworn 4-1 (8-10) Prominent, lost place over 2f out, 7th of 9, 13 3/4l behind Blyton Lass (9-3) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Clayton Hall (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Always in rear, reminders and struggling after 4th, tailed off, 9th of 11, dist behind Frightened Rabbit (11-6) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Jul.
Dolphin Village (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Held up behind, headway under pressure over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, never threatened leaders, 6th of 15, 8 1/4l behind Red Gunner (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
High Glory (FR) 10-1 (8-6) A little slow into stride, raced in 12th early, pushed along under 5f out, some headway straight, one pace from over 1f out, 8th of 14, 10l behind Power Drive (9-6) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Nov.
