in rear, ridden 2f out, ran on final furlong to snatch 4th post, never nearer
never near leaders
in touch, ridden to lead over 1f out, caught final strides
held up, ridden 2f out, ran on strongly to lead final strides
led after 1f, headed over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace
led 1f, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
tracked leader after 2f, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on one pace
soon in mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Buxted has looked a horse going places of late but this may come too soon, with preference for HELIODOR ahead of Record Breaker. Richard Hannon has started 2010 with a bang in saddling seven winners from 31 runners and Heliodor has clear claims in this listed contest. The colt is rated 107 and so comes out clear best at these weights and he was last seen running with credit in group company. The chief concern is that his wins have come over slightly shorter distances but he's faced some stiff tasks over a mile and a half and this looks easier, so with Richard Hughes up he's worth siding with on his first start of the year. Record Breaker is at his best over this trip and had a very good 2009 with wins at Ascot and Hamilton and a host of good runs in defeat. He's not started 2010 in quite the same fashion with some mid-division finishes in Dubai, but this is a more suitable contest and he should be able to dictate proceedings from the front as he likes to do. Again, his yard are going well and this six-year-old is a very real threat. Buxted has a bit to find on the figures but he's unbeaten in two starts and couldn't arrive in better health. Both successes have come over this trip at Lingfield but there's every reason to expect he can reproduce his form at Kempton and if there is to be a surprise then it may come from Robert Mills' animal. Spruce has been similarly progressive since arriving in the UK but his winning run may come to an end in this company and a bigger threat looks to be Illustrious Blue. William Knight's horse is another who has been campaigned over in Dubai with little success but he's a decent sort for this grade, although carrying top weight is no easy task and he's best left alone until returning to Goodwood later on in the year. Porgy is hard to assess on his first start for the yard so the market may be the best guide, Dance The Star is a solid handicapper but he's surely not up to this and neither should Kaolak be. This is a cracking contest for a Wednesday evening and Heliodor might be the one to land it, though there's a feeling it won't be easy.
Illustrious Blue 33-1 (9-9) 9th of 12, 6l behind Once More Dubai (9-6) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 3f hcap.
Porgy (8-11) 8th of 11, 7l behind Capitaine Courage (8-11) at Saint-cloud(FR) 1m 2f lst stk sft in Oct.
Record Breaker (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) 6th of 14, 6l behind Antinori (8-8) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-105 in Feb.
Buxted (IRE) 7-2 (8-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Feb beating King's Salute (8-5) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Heliodor (USA) 20-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, soon one pace, 4th of 11, 13l behind High Heeled (8-7) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Kaolak (USA) 14-1 (8-8) Soon lead, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon beaten, 12th of 13, 36l behind Kal Barg (8-10) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-105 in Feb.
Spruce (USA) 8-11fav (9-6) Made all, 3 lenghts clear 8f out, steadied back halfway, shaken up and quickened clear over 2f out, comfortably, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs beating Bariolo (8-12) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Bavarica 20-1 (8-4) Prominent, headway final furlong, soon ridden, stayed on, just held towards finish, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Clear Sailing (9-2) by ns, 7 ran.
Dance The Star (USA) 7-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, chased winner final furlong, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind King Olav (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Feb.
