held up, headway when not clear run over 1f out, switched right entering final furlong, ran on into 2nd towards finish, never reached winner
chased leaders, effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong
always in rear, beaten halfway
held up towards rear, switched right and headway over 1f out, never on terms
steadied start, keen in rear, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, ran on
led until over 3f out, rallied and every chance from over 1f out, no extra towards finish
mid-division, lost place over 2f out, beaten when short of room over 1f out
always prominent, led over 1f out, strongly challenged throughout final furlong, held on well
prominent, led over 3f out, headed over 1f out, faded final furlong
chased leaders effort over 1f out, weakening when short of room inside final furlong
mid-division on outside, headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, faded final furlong
held up towards rear, never a factor
mid-division, under pressure over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, driven over 2f out, kept on same pace
Desert Doctor is much better on the all-weather but is race-fit and his stable won this last year. Buridan won here and at Haydock last year and made a promising reappearance at Doncaster but still finished behind Green Power and TOMMY TAYLOR (NAP). Kevin Ryan’s charge was the eye-catcher that day, finishing with a flourish after missing the break, and has been dropped a further pound since. Alemaratalyoum did well last season but Count Otto and Zain Hana may be better treated. Flavius Titus has done most of his racing over 7f but handled the step down at Ascot in October and Roger Varian’s gelding can’t be left out of calculations.
Summerghand (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) 10th of 17, 7 1/4l behind Major Jumbo (9-7) at York 6f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Alemaratalyoum (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) won at Haydock 1m hcp (3) hvy in Oct beating Crownthorpe (8-5) by ns, 15 ran.
Normandy Barriere (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) 15th of 17, 14 1/4l behind Major Jumbo (9-7) at York 6f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Desert Doctor (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) 3rd of 11, 2l behind George Bowen (9-7) at Kempton 6f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Ice Lord (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) won at Doncaster 6f hcp (2) gs in Oct beating Von Blucher (8-12) by nk, 14 ran.
Green Power 12-1 (9-7) 4th of 17, 1/2l behind Foolaad (9-7) at Doncaster 6f hcp (3) gf in Mar.
Tommy Taylor (USA) 10-1 (9-7) 6th of 17, 2 1/4l behind Foolaad (9-7) at Doncaster 6f hcp (3) gf in Mar.
Flavius Titus 14-1 (8-13) 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Tabdeed (9-3) at Ascot 6f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Buridan (FR) 7-1 (9-4) 7th of 17, 2 1/2l behind Foolaad (9-7) at Doncaster 6f hcp (3) gf in Mar.
Zain Hana 6-1 (9-5) 8th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Eljaddaaf (9-7) at Kempton 6f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Kimifive (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) 19th of 23, 11 3/4l behind Snazzy Jazzy (9-8) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) hvy in Sep.
Count Otto (IRE) 11-1 (8-12) 5th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Tabdeed (9-3) at Ascot 6f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Von Blucher (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) 11th of 17, 5 1/2l behind Foolaad (9-7) at Doncaster 6f hcp (3) gf in Mar.
Burguillos 11-4fav (9-2) 7th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Happy Escape (8-4) at Kempton 7f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Blackheath 4-1fav (9-3) 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Beyond Equal (9-4) at Salisbury 6f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
