led until over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leader, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
mid-division, headway over 1f out, every chance entering final furlong, soon hung right under pressure, kept on well
steadied start, held up, smooth headway on outside over 2f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on strongly
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never reached winner
tracked leaders, every chance over 1f out, weakening when hampered inside final furlong, eased
always behind, eased over 2f out
held up in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, kept on same pace
in touch, weakened over 2f out
Royal Holiday was beaten by the narrowest of margins here when bidding for a hat-trick and has to come into the reckoning again. However, SPARK OF GENIUS is a winner without a penalty after landing an apprentices' race on his handicap debut and can take advantage making a quick reappearance. Ioannou won his maiden over track and trip and can figure with further progress likely while both Bassett Road and File And Paint arrive on the back of placed efforts and cannot be discounted.
Reposer (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra, 6th of 13, 5l behind Clare Harrier (8-13) at Dundalk 1m hcp 47-65 pol in Dec.
Royal Holiday (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Led, headed over 1f out, soon rallied, led again inside final furlong, headed last strides, just failed, 2nd of 11, shd behind Outlaw Torn (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Jack My Boy (IRE) 11-2 (8-12) Always towards rear, ridden and struggling over 2f out, some headway inside final furlong, never involved, 8th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Silverware (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Bassett Road (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Took keen hold in touch, driven to challenge over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, just failed, 3rd of 14, 1/2l behind Golden Desert (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Spark Of Genius 13-8fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, always travelling well, led entering final furlong, ran on strongly, won at Wolverhampton 7f app hcp 0-65 (6) pol beating Bang Tidy (8-12) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
File And Paint (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Keen tracked leaders, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, no extra near finish, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Idol Deputy (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Rubenstar (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Always in rear, last of 10, 28l behind Lastkingofscotland (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Ioannou Evensfav (9-3) Tracked leaders, led entering final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at Wolverhampton 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec beating Coastal Passage (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
North Central (USA) 33-1 (9-4) Led, headed narrowly over 3f out, led again over 2f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Basle (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f sll hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Daunt (IRE) 16-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders on stands side rail, outpaced over 2f out, soon behind, last of 7, 18l behind Iffraam (9-5) at Newcastle 7f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Sep.