soon pushed along towards rear, struggling when hampered halfway
raced wide, mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden to chase winner approaching final furlong, soon no impression
held up in rear, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, stayed on
chased leading pair until over 1f out
mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
made all, driven out
mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on, not trouble leaders
in rear, edged left halfway, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
chased winner, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out
slowly into stride, always in rear
chased leading pair until over 1f out
WELCOME APPROACH, Miss Firefly and Rainbow Above You form our nominal short-list with the first named put forwards as the pick. We'll be hoping for a good run from Briannsta earlier on the card as John Weymes' gelding chased that one home on his last outing and would have won in a few more strides. He's got another couple of pounds to carry but should go close nonetheless. Battimoore was favourite for that contest but had no more to offer in the closing stages and was beaten a length and a half into fifth; she's open to improvement after just eight starts. Miss Firefly may have finished nearer last than first at Kempton but she was beaten under 5 lengths on that occasion having gone close over course and distance on her penultimate start. She can be given an each-way chance. Rainbow Above You has had just the three starts and hasn't looked like troubling the judge in any of them but she's handicapped accordingly, fitted with cheekpieces and has a good jockey on board. It will be fascinating to see whether she comes in for support but Welcome Approach is the percentage call.
Jilly Why (IRE) 8-1 (8-7) Held up in rear, not far away, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 8, 3l behind Nickel Silver (9-4) at Nottingham 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Exceed Elegance (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor, 9th of 12, 6l behind La Gifted (9-2) at Lingfield 7f app hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Sorrel Point 14-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, towards rear, never nearer, 8th of 15, 6l behind Rosie Says No (9-2) at Yarmouth 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Oct.
Bertbrand 12-1 (9-0) Raced far side, chased leaders, ridden and weakened entering final 2f, 14th of 17, 10l behind Mission Impossible (8-8) at Nottingham 5f hcp 0-55 (6) sft.
Megalo Maniac 16-1 (8-9) Dwelt, towards rear, effort on inside approaching final furlong, ridden and stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind Cheery Cat (8-7) at Lingfield 6f app hcp 0-55 (6) pol in Oct.
Chantilly Jewel (USA) 5-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway on inside over 2f out, switched rtight over 1f out, hanging left when not clear run inside final furlong, switched right one pace, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Shannon Golden (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f stks 0-55 (6) pol in Oct.
Nacho Libre 7-1 (8-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 13, 6l behind Ishiadancer (9-4) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Oct.
Welcome Approach 13-2 (9-0) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, finished well, just failed, 2nd of 11, hd behind Briannsta (8-12) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-52 (6) pol in Oct.
Miss Firefly 12-1 (9-0) Held up mid-division and keen, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Annes Rocket (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Catherine (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Mid-division, ridden into 6th 2f out, no extra over 1f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 16, 8l behind Fast Lightning (9-7) at Sligo 6f hcp 47-65 gd in Sep.
Rainbow Above You (IRE) 20-1 (8-7) Rear of mid-division, ridden and no extra entering straight, 11th of 14, 10l behind Primalova (8-9) at Dundalk 5f 3yo mdn stks pol in May.
Best One 5-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Spoof Master (9-1) at Kempton 5f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Battimoore (IRE) 5-1fav (8-9) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 1 3/4l behind Briannsta (8-12) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-52 (6) pol in Oct.
