held up in rear, switched left 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish
prominent, driven 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, driven over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, weakened towards finish
mid-division, some headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon clear, comfortably
prominent, lost place 3f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway when not much room over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
awkward start, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, no impression, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
dipped start, prominent, driven 2f out, no impression on winner final 100 yards, kept on
prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
always towards rear
There are five previous course and distance winners in this sprint, including the evergreen Line Of Reason. Paul Midgeley’s 10-year-old didn’t win last year but ran well on his reappearance here and has dropped to a decent mark. MAGICAL SPIRIT may be better over 6f nowadays but this is a stiff track and Kevin Ryan’s charge ticks plenty of the other boxes. He’s 2lb better off with Paddy Power for a half-length defeat at Newcastle in the autumn. Ustath has been lightly raced but has switched stables since disappointing on his handicap debut at York. Our Little Pony would come into the reckoning if the heavens opened along with Afandem.
Our Little Pony 9-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden and went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on to lead close home, won at Pontefract 5f hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Hawaam (9-2) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
James Watt (IRE) 40-1 (9-3) Mid-division, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 18th of 19, 22 1/2l behind Hafeet Alain (9-0) at York 7f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Dapper Man (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Led until over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 8, 10 3/4l behind Tone The Barone (9-3) at Chelmsford City 5f hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Big Les (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Led and raced alone on near side rail, driven along halfway, headed 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 7 1/4l behind Venturous (9-0) at Newcastle 5f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Magical Spirit (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Led, hard driven when headed inside final furlong, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Paddy Power (9-1) at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Ustath 6-1 (9-0) Led 1f, remained prominent, lost place halfway, eased, last of 14, 19 1/4l behind Wedding Date (8-13) at York 5f hcp (3) gf in May.
Victory Angel (IRE) 18-1 (9-12) Led, headed 2f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 23l behind Han Solo Berger (9-1) at Newmarket 5f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Line Of Reason (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Held up in rear, beaten 2f out, 7th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Daschas (9-1) at Yarmouth 5f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Afandem (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, switched left 2f out, effort over 1f out, never involved, 8th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Tawny Port (9-5) at Southwell 5f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Paddy Power (IRE) 22-1 (9-1) Held up, headway halfway, chased leaders 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Magical Spirit (9-5) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Rapid Applause 33-1 (9-6) Soon outpaced, well behind final 2f, eased, last of 8, 16 3/4l behind Hareem Queen (9-0) at Southwell 5f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Fendale 7-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, driven and effort inside final 2f, ridden and kept on same pace inside final furlong, no impression, 5th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Tathmeen (8-7) at Newcastle 5f hcp (3) pol in Feb.
