mid-division, headway to lead over 1f out, ran on well, driven out
prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced and weakened 2f out
tracked leader on outer over 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
towards rear, headway on inner over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, no room to challenge and eased final furlong
steady start, behind, chased leaders on outer 3f out, no progress final 2f
led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, no extra near finish
held up in rear, ridden 3f out, plenty to do 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, closed on leaders near finish
always towards rear, never a factor
prominent, chased leader over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong
in touch, effort 2f out, not pace to challenge, weakened over 1f out
steady start, held up towards rear, headway from 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, every chance, no extra final 50 yards
A chance is taken with Lorikeet ahead of more obvious candidates like Casual Affair and Smokey The Bear. The selection won three times for Noel Chance last year and is now racing from the same mark as when last successful. He has had two runs this year since joining Gary Moore, fading having made the running on both occasions. Hold-up tactics have been successfully employed in the past and he could go well here if ridden with more restraint. Smokey The Bear has been mopping up in claimers but looks capable of holding his own back in handicap company. Casual Affair won with plenty in hand last time and may well be able to defy a 7lb rise in the weights although his task will not be easy. Most Definitely could make the frame again but we'll take Lorikeet to make a return to winning ways.
Smokey The Bear 10-3 (9-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead just over 1f out, ran on, driven out, won at Kempton 1m 2f clm (6) pol beating Without Excuse (9-7) by 2l, 8 ran.
Stoop To Conquer 8-1 (9-6) Mid-division, chased leaders 5f out, every chance over 1f out, not quicken final furlong, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Jack Rolfe (10-0) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Contra Mundum (USA) 3-1 (9-4) Led, headed 8f out, every chance from 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Jackie Kiely (9-7) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Jan.
Ambitious Genes (IRE) (8-13) Never a threat, 6th of 14, 6l behind Betwixt (8-8) at Le Lion D'angers 1m 3f in Sept.
Casual Affair 4-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, 2nd over 3f out, led just over 1f out, ran on well, won at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan beating Steig (8-7) by 4l, 9 ran.
Turner's Touch 9-2 (9-6) Slowly away, held up in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd post, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Birkside (9-9) at Kempton 1m 3f clm (6) pol in Oct.
Lorikeet 16-1 (9-6) Led until over 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 7l behind Mutamaasek (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
They All Laughed 7-2 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, driven over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Bentley Brook (8-9) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Dec.
Taxman (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Prominent, pushed along 5f out, weakened over 3f out, 8th of 9, 25l behind Casual Affair (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Our Kes (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Keen, held up towards rear, headway when not clear run approaching 1f out, soon switched right, ran on, gaining near finish, 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind Josr's Magic (8-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
One To Follow 14-1 (9-7) Led for 6f, chased leader, ridden 5f out, weakened 2f out, eased, 8th of 10, 35l behind Doubly Guest (8-12) at Bath 2m 1f 3yo hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Most Definitely (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Behind, headway 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Rising Force (9-0) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
