towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, driven and kept on final furlong, headed close home
held up behind leaders, ridden along halfway, driven and one pace until weakened inside final furlong
in touch, ridden along halfway, soon beaten
mid-division, effort over 3f out, no impression
mid-division, headway over 3f out, driven and kept on same pace final furlong
raced alone stand side, was never a factor
towards rear, headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
mid-division and soon chased along, never troubled leaders
prominent, ridden along halfway, soon beaten
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden along halfway, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest at finish
started slowly and towards rear, headway over 2f out, driven and ran on final furlong to lead close home
dwelt and was soon chasing leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear and soon chased along, headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders, ridden along halfway, driven over 1f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
in touch, ridden along over 3f out, driven and one pace final furlong
prominent for 4f
chased leaders, ridden along halfway, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
More chance of finding a salad in Shane Warne's fridge than highlighting the winner here but we will try our best and we will side with Chin Wag ahead of Cheery Cat and Maia. The selection has gone well fresh in the past, winning on his debut at Leicester, and he is taken to oblige today. The drop to seven furlongs will not harm his chances and effective on any ground, Jim Goldie's charge is fancied to return to winning ways off this mark of 60. Kirkby's Treasure is a capable performer and he is a major player now dropped in trip at a track he likes. Cheery Cat is consistent and kept his form well last season, whilst Violent Velocity and A Big Sky Brewing both need to bounce back to form. Avontuur is better on the all-weather and is yet to record a victory on turf, whilst Maia is unexposed and looks a major danger assuming that the ground doesn't deteriorate (didn't act on soft on only previous try). Aussie Blue is yet another who could run well but he has needed an outing or two in the past and so we will return to Chin Wag as the selection.
Stoic Leader (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 10l behind Dasheena (8-5) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Grand Opera (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, chased leaders and one pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Cool Ebony (9-2) at Musselburgh 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Sept.
Violent Velocity (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) In touch, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 16, 11l behind Dark Energy (9-1) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Oct.
Sands of Barra (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Chased leaders, weakened over 2f out, 13th of 14, 23l behind Spinning (8-13) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Oct.
Woodsley House (IRE) 66-1 (9-2) In rear and keen, weakened 2f out, 12th of 13, 7l behind Dichoh (9-2) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec '06.
Maia 15-2 (8-9) Dwelt, good headway 2f out, squeezed through to lead close home, won at Catterick 6f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jul beating La Vecchia Scuola (8-3) by a nk, 9 ran.
Valdan (IRE) 66-1 (9-4) Led far side group, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 10l behind Crocodile Bay (9-7) at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Oct.
Kirkby's Treasure 12-1 (8-11) Towards rear, never dangerous, 11th of 15, 9l behind King of The Moors (9-2) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Ghafeer (USA) 25-1 (9-3) Chased leaders to over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 14, 12l behind King's Bastion (9-4) at Redcar 7f 3yo hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Cheery Cat (USA) 11-2fav (8-10) In touch, driven over 1f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Nuit Sombre (9-5) at Beverley 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Sept.
Aussie Blue (IRE) 7-1 (8-6) Held up in touch, pushed along over 3f out, headway and effort over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 2nd of 11, nk behind Drawn Gold (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 3yo app hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Chin Wag (IRE) 11-2 (8-3) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 9, 19l behind Cha Cha Cha (8-12) at Musselburgh 7f 3yo hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Nok Twice (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway on inside well over 1f out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 9l behind Northern Boy (9-0) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Dressed To Dance (IRE) 7-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders to halfway, soon weakened, last of 7, 27l behind Another Genepi (9-10) at Southwell 6f fll hcp (6) fbs.
Messiah Garvey 16-1 (8-8) In touch, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 3l behind Smokin Joe (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Double Carpet (IRE) 16-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, pushed along in rear, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 6l behind Trinculo (8-13) at Southwell 6f hcp (6) fbs in Dec.
Tyrannosaurus Rex (IRE) 3-1 (9-2) Mid-division early, in rear 5f out, no danger after, 7th of 11, 7l behind Bens Georgie (8-6) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Boy Dancer (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden approaching final furlong, no further impression, 6th of 14, 3l behind Contented (8-13) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.
A Big Sky Brewing (USA) 4-1jt-fav (9-1) In touch, driven halfway, weakened final furlong, 7th of 15, 5l behind Cheery Cat (9-2) at Redcar 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Aug.
Avontuur (FR) 14-1 (8-6) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at W'hampton 6f app hcp (6) pol beating Music Box Express (8-9) by a hd, 8 ran.
