held up in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, ridden out
tracked leader, effort over 1f out, faded final furlong
keen, tracked leader, effort over 1f out, soon one pace
slowly into stride, always behind
led until approaching final furlong, soon weakened
slowly into stride, held up, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never reached leaders
slowly into stride, chased leader, led approaching final furlong, headed closing stages, kept on
behind, driven over 2f out, never a factor
chased leaders, effort over 1f out, soon weakened
Withdrawn
Top Boy carries a 6lb penalty for last week's Kempton victory but he's won around here and can go well again. Compas Scoobie was penalised for a comfortable Chelmsford victory when runner-up at Leicester and is only 1lb higher so has to be respected. Lucky Lodge loves the surface and is a regular winner around here and at Newcastle and he's down in the ratings, despite a narrow defeat at the latter track last time. SWANTON BLUE won an Epsom handicap last month then ran well from 6lb higher at Leicester. He doesn't have the best of the draw but has been running well enough to overcome that problem and gets the nod. Round The Island scored at Pontefract last month and has won at Newcastle though he's a hold-up horse so stall one may not be ideal.
Top Boy 5-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, took keen hold, soon mid-division, headway over 3f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Kempton 6f hcp (5) pol in Oct beating Secret Agent (8-12) by 2l, 11 ran.
Compas Scoobie 11-4fav (9-13) Chased leaders far side of group, ridden and went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Twilight (9-2) at Leicester 6f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Rockies Spirit 33-1 (9-3) Led early, prominent, one pace over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 12, 6 1/2l behind Kamra (9-5) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Wirral Girl (IRE) 12-1 (8-2) Close up, ridden and headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Big Les (8-9) at York 6f hcp (3) gs in Sep.
Sir Roderic (IRE) 9-2 (8-9) Held up towards rear, driven inside final 2f, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 10, 2 3/4l behind Beyond Equal (9-4) at Salisbury 6f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Swanton Blue (IRE) 9-2 (9-10) Led until inside final furlong, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Danecase (9-9) at Leicester 6f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Round The Island 15-2 (8-8) Restless in gates, towards rear, wide on home turn, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on, not pace to threaten, 4th of 14, 2 3/4l behind Desert Ace (9-1) at Pontefract 5f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
The Lacemaker 5-1 (9-3) Prominent, led over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Compas Scoobie (9-7) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Brockey Rise (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Held up in touch, weakened over 2f out, last of 10, 10 1/2l behind Fantasy Justifier (8-12) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Lucky Lodge 9-1 (9-9) Always prominent, led halfway, ridden over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, kept on gamely, headed final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 13, nk behind Billyfairplay (8-8) at Newcastle 6f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Big Time Maybe (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Raced keenly, chased leaders on inside, ridden over 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 8th of 13, 4 3/4l behind Kodiline (9-6) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (5) pol in Sep.
