chased leaders, hard driven over 2f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well
steadied in rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, switched right to challenge over 2f out, soon outpaced, stayed on well towards finish, never nearer
held up in rear, headway over 3f out, soon under pressure and weakened
led until over 2f out, soon one pace
tracked leader, hard driven over 3f out, soon weakened
tracked leader, pulled hard early, smooth headway to lead over 2f out, soon hard ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra
C&D winner Sky High Diver is the one to beat if taking his chance. He was declared a non-runner here on Friday in race won by C P Joe, who co-incidentally had earlier beaten runner-up SISTINE at Ffos Las. The latter improved for the step up to today's trip on her first start for Nicky Henderson and further progress is expected here so she gets the nod. Chepstow winner Thank You Joy has been placed on the surface and has claims along with Art Thief, who scored at Wolverhampton in September, but Marina Ballerina could prove a bigger threat as she went close when third over C&D on her penultimate start.
Sky High Diver (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Held up mid-division, switched right over 2f out, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well towards finish, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (6) fbs in Nov beating Spahi (8-13) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Sistine 8-1 (9-0) Keen in touch, headway 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, soon headed, kept on one pace, 2nd of 13, 5l behind C P Joe (8-9) at Ffos Las 1m 4f app hcp (6) hvy in Nov.
Thank You Joy 12-1 (9-7) In rear, kept on final furlong, never near leaders, 7th of 12, 19l behind Blue Cossack (8-13) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Art Thief 3-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, never on terms, 5th of 10, 11l behind Rose Aurora (8-10) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Hal Of A Lover 25-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 17l behind Body Language (9-5) at Redcar 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Oct.
Fonnie (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, soon lost lost place, last of 6, 48l behind Ela Gonda Mou (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Nov.
Marina Ballerina 9-2 (8-12) Mid-division, outpaced over 3f out, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 5th of 12, 13l behind Cadgers Brig (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Merrjanah 33-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, mid-division, headway over 2f out, never on terms, 6th of 13, 13l behind Maven (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.