Verdict
Dancing Dik, Laterly and Song in my Heart make the shortlist here with SONG IN MY HEART the selection to make a winning bow over timber. Dancing Dik was fast enough to win a handicap at Windsor in June, and he shaped well to be third in what looked a decent maiden hurdle at Wetherby on his hurdling bow. That was a promising effort, and he will have learned from the experience and can go well. Tom Tate saddles debutant West With The Wind, and the booking of Graeme Lee looks significant for this emphatic Southwell Flat winner. Stable companion Laterly has the benefit of a previous run however, and although well beaten by a very impressive winner, Starluck, on his debut, he was best of the rest, and he comes to the winter game after a good summer, including wins at Thirsk and Ripon, rated 96 by the end of the season. Jonjo O'Neill had two big winners last Saturday and he introduces Song in my Heart in the colours of JP McManus. A very consistent performer on the Flat, where he was lightly raced and never finished out of the first four, he battled gamely to lose his maiden tag at Listowel on his most recent start in June. Off the track since, he is sure to have been well schooled, and Song in my Heart is taken to give his supporters just that.
Formwatch
Nino Cochise (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Chased leader, led 4th, joined and driven along from 3 out, narrowly headed 2 out, rallied under strong pressure to lead on line, won at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Nov beating Mount Helicon (10-12) by a shd, 9 ran.
Saticon 11-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 8th of 15, 17l behind Simarian (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Ace of Spies (IRE) 9-1 (8-10) Mid-division, driven over 2f out, ridden, headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 16, 2l behind Time To Regret (9-6) at Thirsk 1m sll hcp (6) sft in Aug (Flat).
Capal Dubh Alainn (IRE) 9-2 (9-8) Chased leaders, ridden 4f out, soon outpaced, 6th of 14, 12l behind Sir Sandicliffe (9-2) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Oct (Flat).
Dancing Dik 10-1 (10-7) Held up, ridden 3 out, kept on from next, never dangerous, 3rd of 14, 16l behind Banquet (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Laterly (IRE) 15-8 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 4th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, kept on, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 13, 18l behind Starluck (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Motarid (USA) 13-8fav (10-12) Tracked leaders and mistakes, led approaching last, headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Pemberton (10-9) at Hexham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) hvy in Nov.
Mr Plod 150-1 (10-9) Led 1st, remained close up, ridden and weakened soon after 6th, 4th of 13, well behind Starluck (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Seven Stars 100-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 2 out, weakening when not fluent last, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Starluck (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Song In My Heart (IRE) 8-13fav (9-5) Soon led, strongly pressed final furlong, stayed on well, all out, won at Listowel 1m 3yo mdn aut frm in Jun beating Pretty Ballerina (9-0) by a shd, 11 ran (Flat).
Sunny Sprite 66-1 (8-7) Keen, mid-division, ridden, weakened approaching 2f out, 12th of 14, 11l behind Shanzu (9-1) at Leicester 1m 3yo hcp (5) sft in Sept (Flat).
Tank Commander 13-2 (8-11) Held up, ridden and struggling over 3f out, 9th of 10, 23l behind Siena Star (9-3) at Brighton 1m 2f sll hcp (6) gs in Oct (Flat).
West With The Wind 6-4fav (9-3) Made virtually all, ridden clear 2f out, unchallenged, won at Southwell 1m 4f mdn stk (5) fbs in Nov beating Colourful Move (9-3) by 7l, 12 ran (Flat).
Blues In Cee (IRE) 13-2 (8-11) Always towards rear, tailed off, last of 14, well behind Jane Austen (8-11) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f lst stk sft in Oct (Flat).
Bosamcliff (IRE) 3-1fav (10-5) Held up in rear, under pressure 3 out, soon beaten, 6th of 9, well behind Sydney Sling (10-9) at Fakenham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) sft.
Great Future 100-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, well behind Purely By Chance (10-8) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) hvy.
John Potts 33-1 (9-2) Held up, raced keenly, ridden 3f out, soon struggling, 5th of 7, 23l behind Azabu Juban (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Nov (Flat).
Ambrose Princess (IRE) 8-1 (8-3) In touch, pushed along over 4f out, chased leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Sabre Light (8-13) at Kempton 1m 3f 3yo clm (6) pol in Nov (Flat).
