always towards rear
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, every chance from over 1f out, keeping on when short of room inside final furlong
held up, ridden and headway on outer 2f out, kept on one pace
keen in touch, effort over 1f out, short of room inside final furlong, stayed on
tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and hampered inside final furlong, carried right and snatched up near finish
held up, ridden over 2f out, not troubled leaders
close up, ridden to lead when hung badly inside final furlong, ran on
soon led ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
steadied start towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders
very slowly away in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish
None of these tick all the boxes. Saaboog sluiced up at Southwell last time but that was such a big improvement on his past form and he's been hit with a 12lb rise in the weights. Flying Power makes more appeal off a 3lb higher mark for his recent C&D win and Desert Vision beat higher-rated horses in a claimer here last time, though over a much shorter trip. The Lock Master ended the Turf season in decent form but has yet to score off a mark as high as today's so another chance goes to C&D winner EPIC STORM, back at this track after a fourth at Lingfield on his handicap bow.
Blizzard Blues (USA) 66-1 (9-9) Awkwardly away and dwelt, behind, edged left halfway, beaten when eased over 2f out, 16th of 19, well behind Veiled (9-3) at Royal Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Jun '11.
The Lock Master (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Tracked leading pair, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and weakened 2f out, last of 5, 14l behind Cracking Lass (8-11) at Leicester 1m 4f cond Stakes (3) sft in Oct.
Royal Peculiar 6-1 (9-1) Soon led, headed 4f out, weakened 2f out, behind final furlong, last of 8, 41l behind Into Wain (9-0) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Desert Vision 13-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, led over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks (6) pol in Nov beating Super Say (9-5) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ascendant 16-1 (9-10) Led until ridden and headed over 4f out, weakened 3f out, last of 11, 36l behind First Avenue (9-7) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Lemon Drop Red (USA) 3-1fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, led over 6f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 12, 26l behind Jasmeno (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct '11.
Flying Power 11-1 (9-1) Prominent, led over 1f out, edged left, ridden inside final furlong, held on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov beating Fourth Generation (9-2) by nk, 12 ran.
Saaboog 9-1 (9-0) In touch, tracked leaders over 4f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Oct beating Honoured (8-12) by 9l, 13 ran.
Epic Storm (IRE) 11-4fav (9-6) Keen close up, ridden and edged left approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 2l behind Focail Maith (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Musnad (USA) 7-1 (9-9) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, kept on under pressure, never on terms, 4th of 10, 8l behind My Mate Jake (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.
Change The Subject (USA) 14-1 (9-9) Dwelt, behind, effort over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 25l behind My Mate Jake (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.
Dumbarton (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Dwelt, always towards rear, 12th of 13, 15l behind Paene Magnus (9-8) at Dundalk 1m hcp 60-80 pol in Nov.
