chased leader, effort over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
always behind
mid-division, under pressure over 2f out, soon beaten
prominent, led over 5f out, hard driven over 1f out, ran on well
led until over 5f out, rallied over 2f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, headway over 1f out, never on terms
in touch, lost place well over 1f out
behind, some late headway, never nearer
slowly into stride, always behind
chased leaders, outpaced halfway, rallied over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never reached winner
NonRunner
Three times a winner over course and distance, PHILBA should make another bold bid. He found only one too good here last time when finishing ahead of several of these including Captain Revelation and Zaeem. The former had earlier won over track and trip while Al Khan scored at Newcastle recently and has also won here before. Holiday Magic makes his Fibresand debut as he bids for a hat-trick and Shyron has his first outing at this venue on the back of a good effort at Lingfield. Pearl Spectre, Boots And Spurs and Showboating have won here in the past but all three finished well behind the selection last time.
Philba 8-1 (9-7) Close up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Mithqaal (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Shyron 12-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway on inner entering final furlong, ridden to join winner inside final furlong, ran on, just held, 2nd of 8, shd behind He's No Saint (9-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Al Khan (IRE) 10-3fav (9-7) Pulled hard chasing leaders, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Dec beating Like No Other (9-0) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Holiday Magic (IRE) 4-6fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, switched to centre entering final 2f, soon led, pushed out, readily, won at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (4) pol in Dec beating Cricklewood Green (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Young John (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, never nearer, 7th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Mithqaal (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Captain Revelation 7-1 (8-13) Close up, pushed along halfway, ridden over 2f out, effort over 1f out, driven and stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Mithqaal (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Zaeem 20-1 (9-0) Raced wide, held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Mithqaal (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Showboating (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Raced wide, towards rear, never on terms, 9th of 14, 8 1/4l behind Mithqaal (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Lexington Times (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Mid-division, under pressure over 2f out, no impression, 5th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Al Khan (9-7) at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Boots And Spurs 16-1 (8-10) Towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, ridden 3f out, never a factor, 11th of 14, 15 1/4l behind Mithqaal (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Pearl Spectre (USA) 7-1 (9-3) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakening when short of room entering final furlong, soon switched right, 8th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Mithqaal (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
