soon in mid-division, headway on inside well over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on
mid-division, not clear run 2f out, headway over 1f out, not clear entering final furlong, soon switched right and faltered, ran on
slowly into stride, outpaced
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened and hung left entering final furlong
slowly into stride, outpaced, kept on towards finish, never nearer
mid-division, headway on outside over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, eased final furlong
prominent, led 2f out, headed 1f out, faded
always prominent, ridden halfway, led 1f out, driven out
in rear, came wide entering straight, good headway and edged left inside final furlong, finished well
in rear, switched right over 1f out, headway and switched left inside final furlong, finished well
Winthorpe is not the most regular of winners however John Quinn's gelding gets the nod ahead of Strabinios King and Bond Becks. The selection was a good winner over the course and distance back in April and showed that he is in good heart with a recent romp at Southwell. The inevitable rise in the weights has followed but he is still on a fair mark on old form and from a good draw he is fancied to oblige. Strabinios King is a fellow course and distance winner and showed that he still has more to come when a runner-up last time, whilst Trinculo is likely to show up for a long way from the front but his company looks tougher than last time. Bond Becks comes here chasing the hat-trick but a wide draw isn't ideal even though he does possess plenty of early dash. Toms Laughter and Perlachy are just two others in the lineup who are consistent, however it is Winthorpe who we take to defy top-weight.
Winthorpe (IRE) 7-4fav (8-13) Held up, headway to mid-division, halfway, chased leader over 1f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Southwell 6f hcp (6) fbs beating Blakeshall Quest (8-5) by 4l, 10 ran.
Strabinios King 13-2 (8-13) Raced keenly towards rear, not clear run well over 1f out, stayed on well when clear final furlong, not reached leaders, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Rabbit Fighter (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Forced Upon Us 7-2jt-fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, unable to quicken, weakened final furlong, 7th of 14, 4l behind Millfield (9-1) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Russian Rocket (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Tracked winner, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Our Fugitive (9-1) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Polar Force 12-1 (9-0) Steadied start, held up behind, headway 2f out, kept on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Triskaidekaphobia (8-6) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Toms Laughter 7-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 17, 12l behind Hansomelle (8-13) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gs in Jul.
Commander Wish 5-2fav (8-4) With leaders over 2f, soon lost place, no danger after, 6th of 9, 5l behind Royal Challenge (9-1) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Trinculo (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Led early, prominent, led over 2f out, soon headed, bumped over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 11l behind Bens Georgie (8-6) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) std.
Bond Becks (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) Close up, led over 4f out, driven and held on well towards finish, won at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol beating Musical Script (8-13) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Perlachy 11-1 (8-3) Led 1f, led again 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Royal Challenge (9-1) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Theoretical 22-1 (8-12) Behind, hung right halfway, ran on final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 10, 4l behind Sands Crooner (8-13) at Lingfield 5f app hcp (6) pol.
Guildenstern (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Outpaced and always in rear, last of 11, 14l behind Willhewiz (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Radiator Rooney (IRE) 11-1 (8-4) Mid-division, ridden and hung right from over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind By The Edge (8-7) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) std.
