held up in mid-division, came wide into straight, good headway over 1f out, chased winner and strong run inside final furlong, just failed
dwelt, held up in rear, not much room towards inside and switched right over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong
chased leaders on outside, wide and weakened straight
chased leaders until ridden and weakened 2f out
took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, ridden and losing place when hampered inside final furlong
chased leaders, led 2f out, soon ridden, ran on inside final furlong, just held on all out
behind, keeping on one pace when not much room inside final furlong
behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong
slowly into stride, held up on inside, headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, poushed along 3f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong
CARMENERO bounced back to form last time and he is nominated here over Signora Frasi and Angaric. It was a return to form for Carmenero when he got his head in front last time out and now that he has regained the winning thread he could be worth sticking with. Angaric has posted just one win in his last 35 races but it was a much better effort from him last time when he chased hone Carmenero, although on these terms it is hard to be confident about his chance of turning the tables. Signora Frasi was all-out to beat Just Jimmy at Kempton back in October but she does have a good draw here and she remains relatively unexposed. Ian Williams has been in good form and Josiah Bartlett does make some each-way appeal, while Headache is at his best when he is able to front run, so he will need to break smartly to dictate the pace from stall 6. An open event but the vote goes the way of the in-form Carmenero.
Carmenero (GER) 8-1 (9-4) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon led, driven clear easily, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol beating Angaric (8-8) by 6l, 11 ran.
Kladester (USA) 33-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3f out, 16th of 18, well behind Hel's Angel (9-4) at Thirsk 1m 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gd in May.
Jord (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Held up in touch, lost place well over 2f out, 7th of 11, 9l behind Carmenero (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Angaric (IRE) 25-1 (8-8) In touch, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Carmenero (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Signora Frasi (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Held up in touch and keen, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Kempton 1m hcp 0-52 (6) pol in Oct beating Just Jimmy (9-0) by nk, 13 ran.
Headache 6-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra final furlong, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Dontuwishitwereso (8-6) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Carnival Dream 20-1 (8-13) Held up in touch, ridden inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Bishopbriggs (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (0-55) (6) pol.
Silidan 25-1 (9-0) Behind, switched right 2f out, never on terms, 12th of 14, 17l behind Naomh Geileis (9-4) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Nov.
Josiah Bartlett (IRE) 4-1 (8-11) Held up mid-division, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Tamino (9-0) at Lingfield 7f Handicap (0-56) (4yo+) (6) pol.
Louisiade (IRE) 9-2fav (8-6) Led, ridden over 1f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, not quicken, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Musashi (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-50 (7) pol.
Misterisland (IRE) 100-1 (8-11) Chased leader, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 26l behind Daniel Thomas (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app sll stks (6) pol in Dec.
