always behind
dwelt, towards rear, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well
behind, headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
towards rear, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
led, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
dwelt, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, quickly weakened
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on
prominent, ridden over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, no impression
mid-division, faded final furlong
always towards rear
mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, one pace
in touch, not much room over 1f out, son ridden and weakened
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, effort and weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden inside final furlong, kept on
towards rear, effort over 1f out, never dangerous
in touch, hampered over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened final furlong
in touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on towards finish
Halation was beaten a couple of lengths in the Lincoln trial at Wolverhampton three weeks ago by Mindurownbusiness. Roger Varian trains the latter so it's reasonable to assume that CERTIFICATE will improve on last year's placed efforts in handicaps and make a bold bid. Chatez was progressive on the Flat last year and has been winning over hurdles subsequently while Yourartisonfire finished third in this contest last year and should go well again. Mujazif won over 7f here in November but stablemate Indian Chief has tumbled down the weights and may well have been laid out for this by his shrewd trainer. Donny Rover ended last season on the up with a double over 1m2f and the lightly-raced Indy should be capable of better this year. King Torus is back on a winning mark but Buckstay has something to prove off his current rating.
Spa's Dancer (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, held up in last pair, struggling 3f out, never a factor, last of 8, 21l behind Burano (8-9) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) sft in Oct.
Chatez (IRE) 8-1fav (8-8) Raced far side, took keen hold in mid-division, ridden and lost place over 2f out, 12th of 27, 18l behind Bronze Angel (9-2) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Halation (IRE) 8-1 (8-3) Raced wide held up, headway when very wide into straight 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 5th of 10, 2l behind Mindurownbusiness (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2).
Buckstay (IRE) 14-1 (8-7) Raced near side, headway over 2f out, 2nd in group well over 1f out, soon ridden and every chance in group, lost 2nd final 110 yards, kept on but no chance with leaders far side, 9th of 27, 8l behind Bronze Angel (9-2) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Indy (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Soon led, headed after about 1f, tracked leader until ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Kleo (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct.
Dance And Dance (IRE) 33-1 (8-8) Raced far side very slowly away in rear, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders, 14th of 31, 8l behind Bronze Angel (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Donny Rover (IRE) 5-1 (9-8) Slowly away, soon recovered chasing leaders on inside, 3rd 3f out, ridden into 2nd over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Oct beating Ocean Applause (8-9) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Flow (USA) 4-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Ruban (8-0) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Indian Chief (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Steadied start, held up, headway far side over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 22l behind Sudden Wonder (9-1) at York 1m 2f (2) gs in Oct.
Mujazif (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, led over 1f out, soon clear, won at Doncaster 7f app hcp 0-90 (3) hvy in Nov beating Shouranour (8-10) by 2 3/4l, 21 ran.
Burano (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Held up, wide into straight 2f out, never on terms, 9th of 11, 7l behind Halation (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Feb.
Lesha (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Held up in mid-division, switched right and headway over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 5l behind Perfect Cracker (8-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-95 (3).
Mister Music 66-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, towards rear, some headway on inside over 2f out, never a threat, 9th of 13, 6l behind Melvin The Grate (8-7) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct.
Certificate 2-1fav (9-6) Tracked winner, ridden over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Lockhart (9-0) at Yarmouth 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep.
Eurystheus (IRE) 33-1 (8-5) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous, 12th of 23, well behind Open Eagle (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
King Torus (IRE) 33-1 (8-8) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Levitate (9-1) at Doncaster 7f hcp 105 (2) hvy in Nov.
Le Chat D'Or 6-1 (8-11) Keen, mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Gabrial (9-2) at Leicester 1m hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Boots And Spurs 10-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 7l behind Spirit Of The Law (8-9) at York 1m 1f hcp 105 (2) gd in Jun.
Swiftly Done (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Mid-division on inside, driven over 2f out, stayed on to chase leading trio inside final furlong, no impression, 4th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Trail Blaze (9-2) at Ripon 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Apr.
General Brook (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden in 9th 2f out, soon no impression, 9th of 14, 13l behind Panama Hat (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Aug.
Yourartisonfire 4-1fav (9-5) Slowly into stride, reluctant in rear, detatched from over 3f out, last of 13, 28l behind No Poppy (9-0) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Sep.
Sleeper King (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Keen close up, lost place over 4f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, soon every chance, not quicken towards finish, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Swing Alone (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Dec.
