slowly into stride, towards rear, good headway entering final 2f, ridden to lead entering final furlong, soon clear, comfortable
held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, no impression until ran on to take 2nd towards finish
tracked leader, led 3f out, hung right, headed entering final furlong, no extra, lost 2 places towards finish
in rear, headway to track leaders over 2f out, ridden, weakened 1f out
dwelt, held up in touch, ridden, weakened over 1f out
close up, ridden to go 3rd over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
raced wide, held up, headway to track leaders over 3f out, ridden to chase leader over 2f out, one pace final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden, slightly outpaced approaching final 2f, stayed on to take 3rd towards finish
led, ridden, headed 3f out, weakened 2f out
held up towards rear, staying on when hampered inside final furlong, soon eased, never dangerous
Nonrunner
Spinning won this race a year ago but he could struggle to cope with the in-form ALQAAHIR whilst we can also expect to see a big run from Lujano. Alqaahir is 9lbs higher than when gaining the first of his two wins last month but he comes late in the day and never wins by too far which means that it could be difficult for the handicapper to collar him. He's lightly raced for one of his years and is hard to ignore given his current form. Spinning has many more miles on the clock but continues to run with credit and is back down to the mark from which he was last successful. He finished close up in a stronger race than this last time and should be a threat to all but he does need a little luck in running. Lujano proved very disappointing when a long way behind the selection last time but he had been in good form prior to that and may be able to bounce back as may Focal Eile who looked progressive in the summer. Gaily Noble and Fazbee are others to bear in mind but Alqaahir is capable of completing his hat-trick.
Spinning 11-1 (9-0) Held up, headway on inner over 2f out, switched right inside last, kept on, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Wing Play (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Oct.
Xpres Maite 20-1 (9-6) Outpaced and behind, never on terms, 7th of 13, 9l behind Ultimate (8-11) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Oct.
Gaily Noble (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 3l behind Espero (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Alqaahir (USA) 7-2 (9-5) Close up, went 3rd going well 3f out, led well over 1f out, pushed along and ran on inside final furlong, held on near finish, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct beating Via Mia (9-2) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Fazbee (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon no impression, 6th of 8, 5l behind Swift Chap (8-13) at Goodwood 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Oct.
Lujano 5-1 (9-5) Led after 1f, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 13, 7l behind Alqaahir (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct.
Justcallmehandsome 25-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 6l behind Beauchamp Viceroy (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Ansells Pride (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Led, headed well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 15l behind Handsome Falcon (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Colonel Sherman (USA) 25-1 (8-13) In touch, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, 9l behind Fell Pack (8-9) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) sft in May.
Ella Woodcock (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Mid-division on outside, pushed along to chase leaders on outside 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 2l behind Alqaahir (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct.
Focail Eile 6-1 (9-7) Soon close up on outside, outpaced over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 7l behind Dinner Date (8-10) at Kempton 1m app hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
