chased leaders on inside, switched out 4f out, pushed along and went 2nd 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, always held
held up towards rear, never on terms
chased leaders, pushed along in mid-division 3f out, shaken up and rallied 2f out, kept on final furlong
held up in last pair, pushed along 3f out, never involved
mid-division, closer tracking leaders 12f out, pushed along and slightly outpaced turning in, rallied out wide hanging left over 2f out, kept on same pace, weakened into 4th final 100 yards
ran green and hung left at times, made all and kept wide in back straight, pushed along over 2f out, ridden soon after, stayed on gamely inside final furlong, unchallenged
raced keenly in 3rd, pushed along over 3f out, outpaced turning in, hung right and weakened final 2f
raced keenly in mid-division, pushed along towards rear 4f out, some late headway out wide, never threatened
last pair, kept on final furlong, headway over 1f out, never nearer
chased winner, pushed along over 2f out, lost 2nd 2f out, weakened soon after
in rear, reminders and struggling 5f out, tailed off
raced keenly in mid-division, steady headway on inside chasing leaders 5f out, hung left briefly over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd final 100 yards
Buckhorn Rocco finished with a flourish to get off the mark at Sandown but TOP DOG may well have beaten subsequent Listed winner Bonttay at Cheltenham had he steered a straight course in the closing stages and Emma Lavelle’s son of Leading Light can make amends here. Scarface is improving with experience while Paul Nicholls runs a couple of debut winners with Harry Cobden preferring Henri The Second to Hugos New Horse. Harry Skelton has chosen Doyouknowwhatimean over stablemate Riskintheground but Estacas looks a bigger threat, though the German raider will need to take a step forward from his victory here in October.
Authorised Speed (FR) 6-5fav (10-8) Held up in touch in mid-division, not clear run over 2f out, soon switched right and badly hampered, ran on from over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, not trouble winner, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Grozni (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (5) gs in May.
Benign Dictator (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Raced in mid-division, ridden and joined leaders at 2f, kept on to lead inside final furlong, always doing enough, won at Uttoxeter 2m (5) gd in Nov beating Delta Run (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Buckhorn Rocco 14-1 (11-0) Held up rear of mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, switched right entering final furlong, led inside final 75 yards, stayed on, won at Sandown 2m (4) sft in Nov beating Salt Of The Earth (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Doyouknowwhatimean 6-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway over 5f out, went 3rd over 1f out, unable to challenge, stayed on, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Onethreefivenotout (11-0) at Worcester 2m (5) sft in Oct.
Dusky Days (IRE) 11-8fav (10-8) Pressed leader, ridden turning for home, stayed on home straight to lead inside final furlong, held on close home, won at Stratford 2m (5) sft in May beating Blue Collar Glory (10-1) by nk, 6 ran.
Henri The Second (FR) 9-4fav (10-13) Ran green throughout, led at a modest pace, shaken up 3f out, ridden and pressed 2f out, stayed on well to draw clear inside last, readily, won at Chepstow 2m (5) gd in Oct beating Deere Mark (10-13) by 8 1/2l, 10 ran.
Hugos New Horse (FR) 3-1 (10-13) Soon mid-division on outside, closed 8f out, challenging over 2f out, 2 lengths off leader entering final furlong, stayed on well, led towards finish, won at Worcester 2m (5) sft in Oct beating Chancycourt (11-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Onesteptwosteps (IRE) Getaway gelding out of Total Gossip.
Riskintheground (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, good headway out wide chasing leaders 3f out, went 2nd approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 4 1/4l behind Hullnback (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (5) sft in Nov.
Scarface (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Mid-division, asked for effort 3f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 10, 9l behind Our Jester (11-0) at Ascot 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Star Path (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Always in rear, never involved, 5th of 6, 29 3/4l behind Midnight Soldier (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f (5) gf in Jun.
Top Dog (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, led and hung left towards finish, headed close home, 2nd of 15, 3/4l behind Bonttay (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
Estacas (GER) 3-1fav (10-13) Held up in mid-division, pushed along and outpaced over 4f out, rallied on inside over 2f out, ridden in 3rd and edged left inside final 2f, stayed on inside final furlong to lead final 100 yards, comfortably, won at Ascot 2m (4) sft in Oct beating Chianti Classico (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
