held up in touch, headway 2f out, ridden to lead and edged left inside final furlong, ran on
tracked leader, challenged leaders 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace
went right start, led, ridden and wide into straight 2f out, soon headed, weakened final furlong
keen held up mid-division, ridden 6f out, behind from 4f out, pulled up from 2f out
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and effort 3f out, hung left and kept on from over 1f out
close up, ridden 3f out, weakened 1f out
Staying is the name of the game here and Proper is taken to relish the test of stamina, while Nawow and Trifti can prove the main dangers. The Charlie Mann-trained selection won over 11f at Kempton last time, so the surface should prove to be no obstacle, and as his dam was a half sister to a winner at this trip there is plenty of hope that he can get even better over further. Nawow comes back after an absence of almost a year, and he has proven stamina and ability, so he is respected, but he does tend to need a run or two, so on that basis we'll take him on. It has been a long time between drinks for Chocolate Caramel, who looks in need of a favour or two from the handicapper, but Tribe looks a more serious threat. He won first time out last year and stays as long as you like, and with the yard in form he is respected despite being high enough in the weights. Even so, Proper has potential for more improvement and gets the vote.
Chocolate Caramel (USA) 3-1jt-fav (9-4) Held up, effort and headway over 1f out, edged left and chased leaders, one pace, 5th of 8, 3l behind Sgt Schultz (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcap (4) pol in Dec.
Nawow 5-1 (9-1) Led after 1f, set steady pace, quickened pace 4f out, ridden 2f out, eased near finish, won at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in May beating Pagano (9-2) by 2l, 7 ran.
Tribe 11-2 (9-5) Stumbled start, tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, soon eased, last of 7, well behind Sunley Peace (8-10) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) frm in Aug.
Trifti 12-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on, won at Lingfield 1m 2f app hcp (5) pol in Mar beating Compton Falcon (9-0) by 2l, 8 ran.
King's Fable (USA) 9-2 (9-11) Dwelt, soon switched left, held up in rear, still going well when badly hampered on inside over 2f out, not recover, 9th of 13, 35l behind Synonymy (9-5) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Compton Falcon 12-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway on inside over 2f out, chased winner and every chance from over 1f out, unable to quicken towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Trifti (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f app hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Sister Agnes (IRE) 28-1 (9-3) Chased leader, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Rock 'n' Roller (9-9) at Folkestone 1m 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
