raced keenly towards rear, some late minor headway, never involved
held up towards rear, bit closer in mid-division 4f out, ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, never dangerous after, plugged on
raced keenly in close 3rd, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, no extra and held towards finish
tracked leader, led going well inside final 3f, pressed inside final furlong, ridden and stayed on gamely towards finish
off the pace towards rear, never involved
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along when switched right and outpaced over 2f out, soon beaten
pushed along after start, off the pace towards rear, headway out wide home turn, hung left under pressure over 1f out, stayed on same pace in 4th final furlong
never closer than mid-division, slightly hampered on inside over 2f out, never involved
steadied and switched left start, held up towards rear, no chance when hampered on rail turning in
held up in rear, never a factor
tracked leaders in 5th, went 3rd going well over 2f out, one pace final furlong, no chance with leading duo
led until headed inside final 3f, weakened quickly over 2f out, tailed off
Both of the recent winners step up in distance with Giorgio Vasari scoring here earlier in the month and Approach The City winning over a mile at Southwell on his penultimate start when beating Kardinya. MIDNIGHT TRAIN (NAP) has failed to complete over timber since joining Nicky Henderson but was beaten less than a length over track and trip when last on the level in October and can go one better in this. Lhebayeb placed here recently while Pink Haze has more scope than most.
Approach The City (IRE) 9-2 (10-0) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, steadied after 1f, headway and switched right 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 8 1/4l behind Zealot (9-10) at Kempton 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Midnight Train 12-1 (11-2) Held up off the pace in last pair, pushed along and behind after 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Sandown 2m (2) sft in Dec.
Giorgio Vasari (IRE) 6-4fav (10-0) Steadied and switched left start, held up off the pace in last pair, closer but still plenty to do over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, never able to challenge, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Ower Starlight (9-10) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Kardinya (IRE) 11-2 (9-7) Held up in touch, effort and driven over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Approach The City (9-7) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Pink Haze (IRE) 11-1 (9-4) Held up rear of mid-division, driven over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 3 3/4l behind Haku (9-9) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Naadyaa 10-1 (9-10) Close up, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened from 2f out, last of 6, 16 1/4l behind Masqool (9-10) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Drill To Dream 9-2 (9-9) Prominent, led over 3f out, edged right and headed inside final furlong, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Uther Pendragon (9-11) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Tawtheef (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway on outside 2f out, led just over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Simply Sin (9-3) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Lhebayeb (GER) 7-4fav (9-7) Raced keenly in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, headway out wide chasing leaders over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed and no extra final 100 yards, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Caracristi (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Letter Of The Law (IRE) 14-1 (9-8) Held up in rear, some headway over 1f out, hung left and weakened final furlong, 6th of 9, 6l behind Caracristi (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Quoteline Direct 14-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, closer in mid-division 7f out, headway when not clearest of runs over 1f out, soon squeezed through and stayed on, lost modest 3rd post, 4th of 10, 3/4l behind Villalobos (10-10) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Cassiel (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 1f out, plugged on towards finish, 5th of 10, 3l behind Guitar (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
