tracked leader, challenged over 2f out, led 2f out, driven and pressed approaching final 1f, stayed on strongly to assert inside final furlong, forged clear
held up in last pair, pushed along over 2f out, ridden 2f out, soon no headway
tracked leading trio, went 3rd over 2f out, soon challenging, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, found no extra and held inside final furlong, lost 2nd post
steadied start, held up in last pair, dropped to last 5f out, ridden on outside over 2f out, soon no headway
tracked leading pair on inside, not clear run on rail over 2f out, ridden and one pace when not clear run again and switched left over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
led raced freely and set decent pace, narrowly headed 2f out, chased leaders, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, stayed on again towards finish, went 2nd post, no chance with winner
took keen hold, held up in 5th, headway on outside 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden and every chance approaching final 1f, no extra final 100 yards
Red Galileo is the only one with a recent run and will find this easier than his latest outing in the John Porter at Newbury. But WINTER THUNDER has the advantage on today's terms and looks ready for the step up into pattern company after winning a hot handicap at Newmarket in October. Rawaki ran well on last year's seasonal debut and could figure while Agent Murphy was a non-runner in a handicap at Newmarket last Saturday and could go well opting for this tougher contest. A maiden winner for Ballydoyle, Felix Mendelssohn steps up in class on his debut for David Simcock, as does stablemate Fractal who has been raised 12lb for winning at Chepstow in September. Farquhar is another winning handicapper trying his luck in better company.
Agent Murphy 12-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to take 3rd towards finish, not reach front pair, 3rd of 18, 2 3/4l behind Battersea (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f (2) gf in Sep.
Farquhar (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Dwelt, always towards rear, 16th of 23, well behind Open Eagle (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
Felix Mendelssohn (IRE) 11-10fav (9-5) Held up, 12th approaching straight, soon progress on outer, 3rd 1f out, pushed out to lead closing stages, won at Navan 1m 2f 3yo mdn in Oct beating Ceylon (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 18 ran.
Fractal 8-11fav (9-4) Last to break, held up, headway and went 2nd over 4f out, led over 2f out, clear over 1f out, easily, won at Chepstow 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep beating Jupiter Storm (9-12) by 8l, 4 ran.
Rawaki (IRE) 3-1 (9-6) Held up in 5th, headway on outside 2f out, soon carried head awkwardly, ridden and not quicken over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Livia's Dream (9-1) at Kempton 1m 4f Listed stks (1) pol in Nov.
Red Galileo 16-1 (8-13) Held up last, pushed along 3f out, ridden and no real headway final 2f, 6th of 8, 8l behind Arab Spring (9-0) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Winter Thunder 4-1 (9-7) In rear, headway 5f out, led over 1f out, ridden out, won at Newmarket 1m 4f app hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Oct beating Fire Fighting (9-7) by nk, 12 ran.
