held up in midfield, smooth headway over 2f out, soon ridden and chased leader, a length down entering final furlong, kept on inside final furlong, not reach winner
held up in rear, switched left and ridden over 2f out, no impression entering final furlong, minor headway inside final furlong, no danger
midfield, some headway before 2f out where ridden, stayed on entering final furlong, kept on into 3rd close home, not reach leaders
took keen hold, midfield, ridden over 2f out, soon no impression, weakened entering final furlong
took keen hold, midfield, ridden over 2f out, soon no impression, kept on one pace entering final furlong
took keen hold, held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, soon outpaced, tailed off over 1f out
prominent, switched left and ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace entering final furlong, weakened into 4th close home
close up in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace entering final furlong, weakened inside final furlong
made all, ridden over 2f out, a length clear entering final furlong, stayed on well inside final furlong
Sir Busker won a Group 2 contest last year but returns to this level 6lb higher than when last successful in a handicap. Onesmoothoperator won over a longer distance here last month and should go well again but Felix hasn’t won since 2021, though should be sharper for last month’s comeback. TO CATCH A THIEF (NAP) was having his first start since the summer, having been gelded in the interim, when landing a novices race at Wolverhampton and beating a subsequent winner by five lengths. He could have been found an easier handicap than this so the Haggas charge gets the vote.
Sir Busker (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Midfield, dropped towards rear before 2f out, headway before slightly short of room before 1f out, weakened quickly thereafter, last of 7, 3 1/2l behind Blue Trail (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (1) pol in Nov.
Felix 12-1 (9-10) Held up in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 3rd final strides, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Base Note (10-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Onesmoothoperator (USA) 15-2 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway from over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, ran on well, led towards finish, won at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Nov beating Struth (9-0) by nk, 13 ran.
United Front (USA) 8-1 (9-10) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, no impression, last of 11, 24 1/4l behind Koy Koy (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Furzig 40-1 (9-1) Held up in touch, effort when not much room over 2f out, no impression, weakened over 1f out, last of 13, 11 3/4l behind Onesmoothoperator (9-0) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Zozimus (IRE) 11-1 (9-8) Towards rear, pushed along over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, never nearer, 8th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Fantastic Fox (9-10) at Newcastle 1m hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Afterwards (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Took keen hold, held up in touch, pushed along over 2f out, made no impression, 5th of 6, 10l behind San Antonio (9-2) at Chester 1m 2f lst stks (1) sft in May.
Island Bandit (IRE) 13-2 (9-7) Pressed leader, led after 1f, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Real Gain (9-10) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (3) gf in Sep.
To Catch A Thief 2-5fav (9-4) Pressed leader, led 2f out, clear over 1f out, easily, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Nov beating Quantum Cat (9-11) by 5l, 4 ran.
