in rear, pushed along halfway, never on terms
prominent, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, weakened towards finish
slow into stride, raced wide towards rear, never on terms
raced wide in touch, ridden and weakened approaching final furlong
slow into stride towards rear, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, never nearer
towards rear, never a factor
soon led narrowly, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
led early, tracked leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, driven out
close up, pushed along over 1f out, ridden and headway inside final furlong, not reach winner
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, lost 2nd close home
in touch, ridden and headway inside final furlong, nearest finish
VENTUROUS (NAP) shrugged off an 8lb rise to land a double with last week’s success at Newcastle. He may well defy a 4lb penalty in his current form and confirm latest running with Watchable. The latter, Top Breeze and Leodis Dream all finished behind Lingfield runner-up Royal Birth last month and the same trio were all beaten by Ornate over track and trip subsequently when David Griffiths’ sprinter went close in this grade. Pop Dancer is upped in class after scoring at Chelmsford while both Ventura Lightning and Stake Acclaim should be sharper for recent comeback runs.
Stake Acclaim (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Led early, prominent, driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 12, 9 3/4l behind Lahore (9-1) at Doncaster 5f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Ornate 14-1 (9-6) Pressed leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon headed, kept on, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Han Solo Berger (8-9) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (2) pol in Oct.
Watchable 14-1 (9-7) Raced wide prominent, led halfway, ridden and headed entering final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Venturous (9-3) at Newcastle 5f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Royal Birth 10-1 (8-11) Dwelt close up, ridden and headway inside final furlong, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Good Effort (9-7) at Lingfield 5f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Venturous (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Held up, wide and headway over 1f out, switched right approaching final furlong, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newcastle 5f hcp (3) pol in Nov beating Exalted Angel (9-5) by 1l, 13 ran.
Ventura Lightning (FR) 9-2 (9-10) Led, joined from over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, last of 3, 3 3/4l behind Ainsdale (9-10) at Newmarket 6f stks (3) hvy in Oct.
Leodis Dream (IRE) 9-1 (8-10) Slowly away towards rear, effort over 1f out, not trouble leaders, 6th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Good Effort (9-7) at Lingfield 5f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Lord Riddiford (IRE) 9-2 (8-9) Close up, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 9 1/4l behind Justanotherbottle (9-4) at Catterick 5f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Top Breeze (IRE) 3-1 (8-7) Tracked leader until halfway, tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Good Effort (9-7) at Lingfield 5f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Pop Dancer (IRE) 11-2 (9-9) Held up behind leaders, closed over 1f out, soon switched left, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Chelmsford City 5f hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Charming Kid (9-7) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
El Hombre 14-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway on inside chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Rock Boy Grey (9-6) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
