always behind, no impression
slowly into stride, soon ridden, no impression
towards rear, ridden 3f out, switched left over 2f out, no impression
chased leader, ridden and weakened over 2f out
mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on to go 2nd final furlong
towards rear, headway 2f out, led and hung right over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong
slowly into stride, soon prominent, ridden hung left and every chance 2f out, weakened after
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
outpaced towards rear, soon ridden, not clear run 1f out, stayed on well to go 3rd final furlong
held up towards rear, good headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
with leader, ridden and every chance 2f out, one pace after
led, edged left and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden and weakened 2f out
never better than mid-division
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong
mid-division, ridden 2f out, no impression
Vanadium can land the opener at the expense of Sion Hill and Choreography. The selection was seen to good effect at this track but over a furlong further. He has not won over six furlongs for two years but showed enough pace in his latest race to suggest that it will not pose as a problem and being able to run off this same mark is a bonus too so plenty of boxes are ticked. Sion Hill has been in blinding form of late winning four times this year and is bidding for a straight hat-trick after wins at Wolverhampton and Southwell on the all weather. That said he does face his stiffest task for some time so whether or not he is good enough to win in this company is questionable. Choreography has not been seen for a little while and has his first outing of the season. Last seasons campaign was also unsuccessful but that meant that he was beginning to look well handicapped. He ran well to finish second on each of his last two starts and has to be respected off such a fair mark. But for the winner we return to Vanadium.
Quality Street 25-1 (10-4) Chased leader, every chance 2f out, weakened quickly, 17th of 18, 23l behind Glencal (9-12) at Salisbury 7f ldy rds hcp (6) gd.
Choreography 15-2 (9-2) In touch, ridden over 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, one pace, 2nd of 19, 2l behind Memphis Man (9-3) at Ayr 6f hcp 0-65 (6) hvy in Oct.
Vanadium 6-1 (8-9) Keen, held up, headway on outside over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead line, won at Salisbury 7f app hcp (5) gd beating Isphahan (8-3) by a hd, 15 ran.
Blessed Place 12-1 (9-2) Always behind, never on terms, 11th of 12, 5l behind Sweetsformysweet (8-13) at Kempton 5f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Nov.
Sovereignty (JPN) 33-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, every chance over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 18, 5l behind Glencal (9-12) at Salisbury 7f ldy rds hcp (6) gd.
Charlie Delta 16-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, faded, 4th of 15, 2l behind Vanadium (8-9) at Salisbury 7f app hcp (5) gd.
Exit Strategy (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, bumped soon after start, raced in mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 6l behind Simpsons Gamble (8-11) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol in Apr.
Over To You Bert (10-12) won at L'ancresse 6f hcp gf beating Grenane (10-10) by a nk, 6 ran.
Shaded Edge 4-1fav (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, driven and kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 4l behind Monashee Prince (8-13) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Spice Gardens (IRE) 6-4fav (9-0) Pulled hard, chased leaders on outside, ridden 2f out, weakened tamely, 9th of 10, 9l behind Royal Envoy (9-2) at Kempton 7f stk 0-55 (6) pol in Oct.
Conjecture 8-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 6l behind Rothesay Dancer (8-13) at Hamilton 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gs.
Elusive Dreams (USA) 8-1 (9-5) Chased leader, led over 2f out, clear 1f out, one pace when headed final strides, 2nd of 14, nk behind Oh So Saucy (9-8) at Yarmouth 7f stk 0-55 (6) gf.
George The Second 28-1 (8-6) In touch, lost place after 3f, behind thereafter, last of 8, 20l behind Royal Envoy (8-10) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Apr.
Boldinor 50-1 (8-12) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened rapidly, last of 14, 16l behind Eccollo (9-6) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov '06.
Binnion Bay (IRE) 14-1 (7-11) Slowly away and always in rear, 14th of 16, 13l behind Davenport (9-4) at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Mulberry Lad (IRE) 20-1 (9-12) In rear, some headway final 2f, never nearer, 9th of 12, 9l behind Punching (9-12) at Brighton 6f sll (6) gd in Apr.
Sion Hill (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Made all, ridden over 1f out, soon hung right, stayed on well, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) gd beating Guildenstern (9-1) by 1l, 12 ran.
Strut The Stage (IRE) 25-1 (8-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 15, 11l behind Vanadium (8-9) at Salisbury 7f app hcp (5) gd.
