steadied start, held up in rear, pushed along 4f out, never involved
held up in 6th, headway in centre 3f out, went modest 4th 2f out, no real further progress
steadied start, held up in 5th, headway into 4th 6f out, weakened over 2f out
led until pushed along and headed over 3f out, no chance with winner final 2f
chased leading pair, went 2nd 6f out until over 4f out, chased leaders, weakened over 2f out, plugged on pressing for modest 3rd
in touch in 5th until awkward on bend and dropped to last pair 6f out, pushed along and struggling final 4f
took keen hold early, held up in last pair, headway over 3f out, went 3rd over 2f out, never any chance with easy winner
tracked leader 3f, 2nd again over 4f out, led and went to far rail over 3f out, came clear final 2f, very easily
Sir Michael Stoute has won this twice in the last 10 years and runs two today. Ryan Moore partners Ballet Concerto, a runner-up at Kempton in September with improvement expected over this longer trip. He is preferred to stablemate Aristocles but the returning Rex Bell could prove a bigger threat as the Gosden colt finished third at Newbury in October. Hepplewhite has the advantage of a recent outing when going close at Chelmsford but MOUNTAIN BELL was narrowly beaten in soft ground over a mile here on her introduction and Ralph Beckett's filly should give a good account.
Aristocles (IRE) 50-1 (9-5) Hampered after start, mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and no headway final furlong, 7th of 12, 12 1/4l behind Mutawaaly (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Ballet Concerto 4-7fav (9-5) Tracked leader, ridden to lead entering final furlong until inside final furlong, kept on but not pace of winner, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Abe Lincoln (9-5) at Kempton 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Sep.
Glance My Way (IRE) 13-2 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 17 1/2l behind City Of Ideas (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Rex Bell (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Started slowly, soon chasing leaders and carried head to one side, edged left and unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on well in closing stages, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 15, 2 1/4l behind Algometer (9-5) at Newbury 1m mdn stks (4) gs in Oct.
Roderic's Secret (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Slow into stride in rear, ridden over 2f out, never nearer, 7th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Lilly Vega (8-12) at Chelmsford City 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Russian Ranger (IRE) 50-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3f out, soon pushed along, led 2f out, ridden edged left and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Ban Shoof (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Apr.
Apache Song 14-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon in touch in 5th, kept on same pace final 2f, 4th of 6, 7l behind Lord Kelvin (9-5) at Windsor 1m mdn stks (5) gf in Aug.
Mountain Bell 11-4fav (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway tracking leaders over 3f out, led narrowly and edged left over 1f out, headed and no extra final 50 yards, 2nd of 11, hd behind Top Beak (9-5) at Windsor 1m mdn stks (5) sft in Oct.
Hepplewhite 13-8fav (8-8) Reluctant to load, tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, headed last stride, 2nd of 8, shd behind Erhaaf (10-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
