held up towards rear, not clear run over 2f out, headway when hampered on inside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish
reared badly leaving stalls, in rear, headway on inside to chase leaders over 1f out, weakened last half furlong
chased leader until ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leading pair, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with easy winner
behind, no real progress final 2f
soon crossed over to lead, ridden and joined 2f out, soon headed, weakened over 1f out
took keen hold, in touch, smooth headway to 3rd 2f out, led well over 1f out, clear final furlong, easily
towards rear, headway on inside 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division on outside, driven along 4f out, headway on outside and hung left over 1f out, plugged on inside final furlong, not pace to threaten leaders
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to threaten leaders
chased leading trio, ridden 4f out, soon weakened and behind, tailed off
Cyril The Squirrel has been running well at Wolverhampton and should be thereabouts, while another good effort from recent C&D winner Ocean Of Peace is expected. Merrymadcap has shown signs of a return to form in claimers here of late and is another to consider, but the vote goes RUSTIC DEACON. Willie Musson's charge finished behind a couple of promising types in maidens over C&D in November and looks on a fair mark for his handicap debut - further improvement is likely.
Cyril The Squirrel 10-3fav (9-7) Soon tracking leader, led over 2f out, headed and edged left inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Join Up (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Bizarrely (IRE) 7-2fav (8-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 10, 4l behind Mountrath (9-1) at Lingfield 1m app hcp 0-62 (6) pol.
Valkov 20-1 (9-4) Mid-division, pushed along and outpaced over 4f out, kept on final furlong, took 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Zafeen's Pearl (9-0) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Vezere (USA) 33-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 13, 14l behind Final Drive (9-11) at Kempton 1m hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Fly By Nelly 13-2 (9-2) In rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Royal Island (8-10) at Lingfield 1m app hcp 0-55 (6) pol.
Pinsplitter (USA) 14-1 (9-0) Set strong pace, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, rallied near finish, 2nd of 5, nk behind Orchard Supreme (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f sell stks (6) pol.
Rustic Deacon 25-1 (9-3) Never better than mid-division, 6th of 11, 12l behind Albertus Pictor (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Capacity (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd and ridden entering straight, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 8l behind Hawa Bali (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo hcp 47-75 pol.
Home 33-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, every chance entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Noah Jameel (9-3) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Sep.
Ocean Of Peace (FR) 7-1 (8-12) Travelled well in mid-division, switched right and headway over 1f out, soon ridden, edged left and ran on to lead near finish, readily, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-52 (6) pol beating Pab Special (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Play Up Pompey 50-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride, always in rear, well beaten over 3f out, 10th of 11, 45l behind One Oi (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Cactus King 14-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden and weakened entering final 2f, 11th of 13, 11l behind Nacho Libre (9-0) at Kempton 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Merrymadcap (IRE) 11-1 (8-5) Raced wide early, tracked leader 7f out, led 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 5l behind Edgeworth (8-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm stks (6) pol.
Fastinthestraight (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) Dwelt, in rear, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders, 6th of 10, 10l behind Indian Violet (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-52 (6) pol.
