held up in rear, travelled strongly, headway under pressure from well over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, no extra close home
prominent, effort and not clear run over 1f out, soon no impression
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out soon weakened
held up in mid-division, driven and headway over 2f out, soon one pace
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, some headway over 1f out, never on terms
always prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
tracked leaders, effort on outside from 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place well over 1f out
led, quickened over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, edged right, soon one pace
mid-division, headway over 2f out, hard ridden, ran on to lead inside final furlong, redily
Withdrawn
Flipando should go well as he bids to follow up last year's success whilst stablemate Spinning is no forlorn hope but we prefer the claims of FANUNALTER who represents the yard responsible for the 2008 winner. The selection went into many a notebook when winning his maiden at Kempton and finishing second to the smart Stoic on his handicap bow but things didn't really pan out for him in two subsequent starts, including at this track. However, he's always given the impression that there will be plenty more to come from him this year and he's fancied to make a winning reappearance. Flipando has 4lbs more to carry than last year having been raised a remarkable 10lbs for a ready win over a trip that's arguably short of his best. He's clearly in rude health but the handicapper's reaction may have scuppered his chances. Spinning has won six of his eleven starts here so also rates highly despite never having won from a mark as high as this whilst Tartan Gigha has been in good form in Dubai and could make his presence felt. There are a good many more with chances as one would expect but Fanunalter looks to have the scope to account for them all.
Extraterrestrial 15-2 (9-2) Held up behind, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Ayr 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sep beating Billy Dane (8-8) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Tartan Gigha (IRE) 5-2fav (8-8) In touch, led briefly over 1f out, no extra when headed, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Mr Brock (9-2) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f hcp (0-110) in Feb.
Flipando (IRE) 25-1 (8-7) Held up, mid-division, smooth headway over 2f out, quicken to lead over 1f out, ran on strongly, won at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Feb beating Bajan Tryst (8-10) by 5l, 9 ran.
Autumn Blades (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Raced wide in rear, still plenty to do when bumped and hampered bend 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, riding underhanded when all chance had gone, 7th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Mahadee (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Feb.
Spinning 9-1 (9-0) Dwelt, towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 4th of 12, 3l behind Viva Vettori (9-0) at Kempton 1m Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) pol in Feb.
Albaqaa 15-2 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway under pressure on inside over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 3rd near finish, 3rd of 18, 5l behind Sirvino (8-8) at York 1m 2f hcap (2) gd in Jul.
Fanunalter 7-4fav (8-12) Slowly away, towards rear, switched right and headway over 1f out, stayed on, not reach leaders, 3rd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Stand Guard (8-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
Black Dahlia 8-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on to chase winner well inside final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Viva Vettori (9-0) at Kempton 1m Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) pol in Feb.
Full Toss 10-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway under pressure over 1f out, never nearer, 6th of 14, 3l behind Dalradian (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Feb.
Noble Citizen (USA) 16-1 (8-4) Never a threat, 6th of 12, 26l behind Barbecue Eddie (8-4) at Meydan(UAE) 7f Handicap (0-115) (3yo+) in Feb.
Vitznau (IRE) 25-1 (9-6) Held up, headway over 2f out, one pace, 5th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Prince Of Dance (9-2) at Salisbury 1m hcp 105 (2) sft in Oct.
Collateral Damage (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Towards rear, switched left and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Doncaster 7f hcp 105 (2) sft in Nov beating Mia's Boy (9-5) by 3/4l, 20 ran.
General Eliott (IRE) 5-2fav (8-12) Disputed lead until over 4f out, pushed along 3f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Jaroslaw (8-12) at Lingfield 1m stks (3) pol in Dec.
