chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
took keen hold in touch, not clear run on inside over 2f out, ridden to challenge when not much room briefly on inside entering final furlong, faded
always prominent, ridden to lead 1f out, edged slightly left, ran on
slowly into stride, always behind
headway over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, lost place when switched right well over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden over a 2f out, no response
chased leader over 5f out, every chance over 2f out, hung left and weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed 1f out, soon edged slightly left, not quicken closing stages
took keen hold in rear, headway over 1f out, not troubled leaders
held up towards rear, not clear run on inside over 2f out, headway over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, kept on
broke well, took keen hold in mid-division, not clear run 3f out, came wide entering straight and progress
The shortlist contains Ever Cheerful, Elusive Warrior and Sovereignty with the selection being Ever Cheerful. The handicapper has given Ever Cheerful a good chance now and this course and distance winner, who has been running fairly well of late and who is well drawn, can go well. Supercast made late headway on his Wolverhampton debut last time and could feature, as could Ochre Bay, who ran well here after a break last time. Elusive Warrior is now back in form but the question is can he replicate his Southwell wins at Wolverhampton? Sovereignty is unpenalised for his apprentice handicap win and is another to consider (Mister Elegant has two-and-a-quarter lengths to find on that form but Snow Bunting has just a length to find), while Desert Lover, who was also behind Sovereignty in the race referred to, is back to a winning mark from March. Dixieland Boy's stable is in good form but he is a little hard to assess overall, while Parkview Love is weighted to win again but recent efforts do not inspire. Once again, then, the vote goes to Ever Cheerful.
Elusive Warrior (USA) 4-6fav (9-6) Held up, smooth progress over 1f out, driven entering final furlong, ran on to lead close home, won at Southwell 7f hcap (6) fbs beating Prettilini (9-0) by a hd, 13 ran.
Sovereignty (JPN) 6-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, led over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 7f app hcp (6) pol beating Snow Bunting (8-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
Lizarazu (GER) 12-1 (8-6) Tracked winner, effort 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out, 12th of 14, 9l behind Reeling N' Rocking (8-13) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-70 (6) pol in Nov.
Dixieland Boy (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, brief effort 2f out, hung right and not quciken over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Esthlos (9-3) at Kempton 1m mdn aut stk (6) pol in Nov.
Snow Bunting 14-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, took keen hold towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Sovereignty (9-3) at W'hampton 7f app hcp (6) pol.
Buzzin'boyzee (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, ridden 3f out, never near leaders, 9th of 14, 6l behind Final Tune (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Mister Elegant 12-1 (8-7) Took keen hold tracking leaders, not clear run from over 2f out until switched left over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Sovereignty (9-3) at W'hampton 7f app hcp (6) pol.
Desert Lover (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Prominent, led over 4f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 11l behind Sovereignty (9-3) at W'hampton 7f app hcp (6) pol.
