led 1f, chased leader after, led again well over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, headway to go 3rd 2f out, soon ridden and stayed on
mid-division, driven 6f out, weakened 3f out
led after 1f, ridden 6f out, headed well over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
dwelt, held up in rear, smooth headway from over 3f out, joined winner over 1f out, ridden, unable to quicken near finish
chased leading pair, led over 2f out, ridden and joined over 1f out, ran on (new course record)
held up in last place, never near leaders
chased leading pair, ridden over 3f out, weakened and lost 4th place near finish
held up well in rear, effort on inside approaching 3f out when not clear run, lost ground, headway over 1f out, stayed on to take 4th near finish
mid-division, ridden 6f out, weakened 3f out
A wide-open handicap can go to Positive Profile ahead of the likes of Nawamees, Dolzago, Linden Lime and Night Cruise. There are many in with a shout here, but we shall take a sporting chance with Positive Profile who has won over the course-and-distance in the past. Granted that was five years ago in an amateur riders' handicap, but the nine-year-old showed that he was no back number when bouncing back from tendon problems to score over 14-furlongs at Wolverhampton recently. Still very well handicapped compared to a few years ago, John Quinn's charge can continue to make up for lost time by following up. Gary Moore had a very good weekend and is double-handed here with Dolzago and Nawamees, with preference for the latter who is far better treated on the Flat than over hurdles. Linden Lime showed vast improvement to score at Kempton and should at least uphold the form over Night Cruise on the same terms, while any support at all for Jeepstar should be heeded, as he hails from a yard that is seldom far off the mark when the money is down. Even the topweight Valance is not out of it, and in the hardest race of the day to call, the narrowest of votes goes to Positive Profile.
Valance (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Led, ridden, headed approaching 2f out, kept on under pressure, 5th of 8, 3l behind Sgt Schultz (8-3) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Nawamees (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Held up, good headway 2f out, switched left to rails over 1f out, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, headed final strides, 2nd of 9, hd behind Captain General (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Jeepstar 5-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed inside final 2f, rallied final furlong, always just held, 2nd of 9, nk behind Prime Contender (9-5) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Billich 11-8fav (10-0) Soon led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 4l behind Salute (9-8) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Night Cruise (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) In touch, led over 3f out, strongly pressed final furlong, headed well inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 10, nk behind Linden Lime (8-11) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Linden Lime 11-1 (8-11) Held up, headway on outside over 3f out, stayed on under pressure to lead well inside final furlong, held on gamely, won at Kempton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan beating Tritonville Lodge (9-6) by a shd, 10 ran.
Positive Profile (IRE) 33-1 (9-8) Tracked leader, ridden 4f out, wandered over 1f out and again inside final furlong, kept on gamely to lead close home, won at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan beating Share The Feeling (9-7) by a nk, 7 ran.
Dolzago 33-1 (9-6) Mid-division, pressed leader 2f out, soon led, ridden clear, won at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan beating Josh You Are (8-6) by 4l, 12 ran.
