led, headed over 4f out, chased winner after, weakened quickly approaching final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
dwelt, soon in touch, driven and outpaced over 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on same pace towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
led over 4f out, driven and held on well towards finish
held up on inside, ridden and kept on final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
mid-division, headway when hung left approaching 1f out, ridden and stayed on towards finish
slowly into stride, raced keenly, held up in last place, never trouble leaders
raced wide, held up, ridden halfway, soon weakened
As last-time winners Grand Palace and Bond Becks will be popular in the market here, while Mannello should well and the vote here goes to Mannello. With Jim Best's yard in tremendous form it is paying to follow the trainer at the moment, and although Mannello has not won lately he did go well in defeat to Fast Freddie over the minimum trip last time. Eddie Ahern is again booked for this return to 6f and with the two previous winners carrying extra burdens here Mannello can take advantage from his mark of 52. Grand Palace is now 6lb higher than when outpointing Inca Dancer here last week and will find this tougher, and the same goes for Bond Becks, who took a Wolverhampton handicap over the trip a couple of weeks back, but is likely to struggle to win again off this revised mark. Musical Script has an inside pitch and is capable of going well from this rating, so money for him would be interesting, but Mannello has enough going for him to get the nod this time.
Iron Pearl 16-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 12, 15l behind Nordic Light (8-9) at W'hampton 6f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Mar.
Musical Script (USA) 10-1 (9-4) Took keen hold, mainly chased winner to 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Willhewiz (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Bahamian Duke 50-1 (8-8) Started slowly, hampered soon after start on inside rail, towards rear, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 10th of 12, 5l behind One More Round (9-7) at Lingfield 6f clm (6) pol in Nov.
With Confidence 15-2 (9-2) Behind and soon ridden along, hung badly right entering straight inside final 2f, soon beaten, 12th of 14, 9l behind Millfield (9-1) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Grand Palace (IRE) 2-1fav (8-7) Raced keenly, prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on, won at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (6) pol in Nov beating Inka Dancer (8-13) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Bond Becks (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Made all, ridden over 2f out, kept on gamely final furlong, won at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Nov beating Canina (8-12) by 2l, 12 ran.
Mannello 8-1 (8-13) Held up, headway final furlong, ran on towards finish, 4th of 13, 1l behind Fast Freddie (9-0) at W'hampton 5f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Mulberry Lad (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace final 2f, 5th of 10, 2l behind Park Valley Prince (8-8) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Edward (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Took keen hold, pressed leader to over 3f out, weakening when edged over 2f out, soon behind, last of 10, 13l behind Grand Palace (8-7) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (6) pol in Nov.
Mind Alert 25-1 (8-8) Steadied start, in rear, headway well over 1f out, kept on final furlong, not reached leaders, 7th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Lost All Alone (8-0) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (6) pol in Nov.
Time Share (IRE) 9-1 (8-4) Steadied start, pulled very hard in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 10, 2l behind Grand Palace (8-7) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (6) pol in Nov.
Elmasong 40-1 (8-7) In touch, lost place over 3f out, no chance after, 11th of 12, 15l behind Chin Wag (9-8) at Kempton 7f clm (6) pol in Oct.
