slowly into stride, ridden and headway on inside 1f out, not reached leader
held up, headway over 1f out, shaken up approaching final furlon, stayed on, not reached winner
towards rear, ridden and oupaced 3f out, stayed on well final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, led just inside final furlong, kept on
never a factor
led, ridden when headed just inside final furlong, faded
In a race where all nine have won over the course, it couldn't be more competitive and the very tentative vote goes to Ed Dunlop's Foreplay, at the main expense of Prince Dayjur and Marko Jadeo. The last-named dead-heated five days ago over course and distance under a fine ride from an inexperienced jockey, and with the slightly more experienced Tolley Dean on board today, he could be there at the finish, although that last run was a marked return to form for the 8-year-old gelding. Prince Dayjur has been running consistently this winter but is paying for that with the handicapper now and could struggle again today off his revised mark. Writ drops back in trip today, and whilst he has won over the distance, he appears to be more effective over further and so he is passed over, as is Ten Shun who looks on a stiff enough mark. Ultimately then we return to Foreplay, who won his last start in slightly more cosy fashion than the winning distance suggests and has appreciated the return to the all-weather after a disappointing turf campaign. The form of his last win has been franked by the runner-up Dichoh winning since, and with that in mind, Ed Dunlop's charge can go in again.
Marko Jadeo (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Slowly into stride, held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran inside final furlong to join leader post, won at W'hampton 6f amt hcp (5) pol deadheating with Gilded Cove (10-3), 12 ran.
Foreplay (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, going well, shaken up to lead just inside final furlong, pushed out, won at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov beating Dichoh (8-12) by a hd, 12 ran.
Prince Dayjur (USA) 9-2 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Mandarin Spirit (8-13) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Ten Shun 7-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway and not clear run over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2l behind dhtrs Gilded Cove (10-3) & Marko Jadeo (11-2) at W'hampton 6f amt hcp (5) pol.
Casablanca Minx (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, no chance when checked just inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 6l behind Royal Amnesty (8-6) at Kempton 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) std in May.
Writ (IRE) 13-8fav (9-0) Led 1f, prominent, led again over 2f out, soon ridden, headed 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 5l behind Magical Music (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Flying Bantam (IRE) 8-1 (8-5) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 8th of 13, 19l behind Yorkshire Blue (9-2) at Ayr 6f hcp 0-80 (4) hvy in Oct.
Chief Exec 16-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, held up in last pair, ridden, headway on outside 3f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Solo Flight (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
