dwelt, held up, headway and wide into straight 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong
keen, raced wide, towards rear, ridden 2f out, some late headway, never nearer
close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, wide and headway 2f out, soon chased winner, kept on one pace final furlong
awkwardly away, always in rear
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
always in rear
in touch, smooth headway 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on, comfortable
in touch, ridden over 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, stayed on near finish
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
always in rear
mid-division, ridden 2f out, not trouble leaders
It’s easier to find the negatives in this tricky contest. Nonios was runner-up here recently but is upped in class while Iberica Road’s success came in a maiden race. Starlit Cantata has done all of her winning so far at Lingfield while Franco's Secret’s five previous wins came over shorter and Eurystheus has had just the one success since 2014. Pool House has yet to win over further than 7f and Bunbury, a winner over a mile at Windsor, has not raced since July. MARCRET doesn’t arrive in great form but started the season on a 15lb higher mark and it’s James Unett’s charge that gets a speculative vote to finally take advantage.
Berlusca (IRE) 66-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, went prominent but wide after 2f, lost place over 3f out, last of 18, dist behind Novelty Seeker (9-6) at York 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Marcret (ITY) 33-1 (9-4) Held up, ridden and kept on final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Carolinae (8-12) at Lingfield 1m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Edge Of Heaven 40-1 (9-4) Chased leader in group towards stands side, ridden over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, 12th of 13, 7 1/2l behind Iconic (9-3) at Newbury 1m hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Bunbury 11-4fav (9-3) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 15 1/4l behind Alnashama (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Franco's Secret 16-1 (9-2) In rear, wide into straight 2f out, never a factor, 9th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Haaf A Sixpence (9-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Starfield 150-1 (9-6) Prominent, lost place over 2f out, 13th of 15, 25 3/4l behind Carnageo (8-12) at Nottingham 1m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Eurystheus (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 18, 4 1/4l behind Timeless Art (9-2) at Newmarket 1m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Petrucci (IRE) 50-1 (8-13) Pressed leader, driven and lost place when short of room 2f out, soon eased, last of 13, 28 1/4l behind Sixties Groove (9-4) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Nonios (IRE) 5-2fav (9-6) Dwelt, held up in rear, switched right and headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong, never reached winner, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Drago (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Starlit Cantata 12-1 (9-7) Held up, towards rear, headway 2f out, driven and went modest 4th final furlong, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Beardwood (9-10) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Iberica Road (USA) 6-1 (9-5) Made all, clear 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Sep beating Laqab (9-5) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Pool House 8-1 (9-4) In touch, headway over 1f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, led briefly well inside final furlong, no extra, 5th of 9, 3/4l behind Black Dave (9-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Outback Blue 8-1 (9-0) Held up, mid-division, weakened over 1f out, last of 7, 11 1/4l behind Wakame (9-0) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (4) pol in Oct.
