held up in touch, smooth headway 4 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well
in touch, chased leaders 3 out, soon under pressure and weakened
tracked leaders, lost place after 3 out
tracked leaders, led before 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on well under pressure
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 4 out, kept on same pace
mid-division, under pressure after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, lost place 3 out, pulled up next
not fluent 1st, held up mid-division, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, weakened 3 out, pulled up next
led, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up mid-division, lost place halfway, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
Binocular can provide Nicky Henderson with back-to-back successes in this contest before taking his place in the Triumph field. Furmigadelaguista and Pierrot Lunaire are the obvious dangers. The selection was backed as though defeat was out of the question at Ascot and duly obliged in impressive fashion with the minimum of fuss. The second has since disappointed but the third has won impressively providing mixed messages from the form. The race looked good at the time, as did the performance, and he should be backed to follow up. Karl Burke's charge should win more races but could be biting off more than he can chew in this company whilst Nicky Henderson has a strong form line on Pierrot Lunaire as Doubly Guest got the better of him at Ludlow. The filly is better than she showed at Ascot where she was free to post and too keen in running but the form looks short of what's required. Troque is worth a second look but has it all to do and the field may need glasses to keep tabs on Binocular.
Binocular (FR) 6-4jt-fav (10-12) Held up, led 6th, driven after 2 out, ran on well, comfortably, won at Ascot 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) sft in Jan beating Norman The Great (10-12) by 6l, 7 ran.
Furmigadelagiusta 11-2 (10-11) Raced keenly, always prominent on outside, led 3 out, ridden and hit last, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec beating Pagan Starprincess (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 18 ran.
Mud Monkey 12-1 (10-9) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, left 3rd last, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Dancer's Serenade (11-5) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Pierrot Lunaire (USA) 11-10fav (10-7) Mid-division, headway 5th, led approaching 2 out, ran on well, readily, won at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft beating Hernando Royal (10-10) by 5l, 13 ran.
Zanir (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Held up, hit 5th, headway next, led soon after 2 out, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Mark of Love (10-12) by 11l, 8 ran.
L'Homme de Nuit (GER) 66-1 (10-7) Hit 2nd, never better than mid-division, 14th of 19, well behind Pasco (11-9) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (3) gs.
Regional Counsel 25-1 (8-4) Pulled hard in rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway to go 4th over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 8, 3/4l behind Samarinda (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol (Flat).
Special Day (FR) 9-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 14, 27l behind Masked Man (11-4) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Troque (FR) (10-1) In touch when impeded 3 out, no chance after, 4th of 16, 11l behind Wellrito (10-1) at Fontainebleau 2m 2f hdl sft in Dec.
Doubly Guest Evensfav (10-13) Held up in touch, keen hold, effort 2 out, soon one pace, 4th of 10, 5l behind Whiteoak (11-8) at Ascot 2m mrs nov hdl (3) gd.
Coppergirl (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Raced wide, held up, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 10, 15l behind Dream of Fortune (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Oct (Flat).
