held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f, ridden over 2f, never dangerous
held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, soon outpaced, kept on from over 1f out, no impression
led early, tracked leader, led over 3f out, pushed clear approaching 2f out, stayed on well
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, faded final furlong
tracked leaders and keen, challenged over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened 2f out
held up in rear, pushed along and headway on outer over 2f out, kept on to chase winner inside final furlong, always held
soon led, headed over 3f out, chased winner, ridden over 1f out, one pace
Nothing in this seller particularly stands out on the ratings, but FARNCOMBE did come up against an above average sort for the grade when second last time and can go one better, possibly at the expense of Kings Topic and Magnitude. Our pick may well be better over shorter, but she chased home Hurakan over this trip at Kempton last time. The filly had all bar the winner well beat and comes out best at the weights here, so she's worth chancing despite slight trip concerns. Veteran Kings Topic likes it here but is another around whom there must be distance issues. His best form has all come at ten furlongs and it's late in the day to be trying a new trip, but he does shape as though he'll stay it and this is the right grade to try. Magnitude is second best in at the weights and is accordingly respected, but he's not looked a winner in waiting of late off his mark in handicaps and this drop in grade might still not be enough. Contrastingly, Playful Asset has a bit to do but she's relatively lightly raced and has won at the trip, so is preferred to Highland Homestead who hasn't been seen this year and has questions to answer. The weight Seaquel receives from her rivals shouldn't be enough for her to win and with Bertie Smalls out of form this is best left to Farncombe.
Highland Homestead 16-1 (9-8) Towards rear, headway on outside 7f out, chased leaders 5f out, weakened over 3f out, last of 12, 27l behind Purely By Chance (8-7) at Kempton 2m hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Kings Topic (USA) 16-1 (9-1) Dwelt, in rear, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 6th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Chanrossa (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcap (6) pol.
Magnitude 16-1 (8-8) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 4l behind Make Amends (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Bertie Smalls 25-1 (8-6) Mid-division, weakend 3f out, 9th of 10, 18l behind Zero Cool (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcap (6) pol.
Farncombe (IRE) 15-2 (8-0) Held up, towards rear and keen, headway over 3f out, chased leader over 2f out, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Hurakan (9-0) at Kempton 1m 4f clm stks (6) pol.
Playful Asset (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Raced in last place, never on terms, 7th of 12, 10l behind Grey Command (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Jan.
Seaquel 12-1 (8-0) Led, headed over 10f out, prominent until weakened quickly over 4f out, tailed off, 6th of 7, 50l behind Boundless Prospect (8-10) at Southwell 1m 6f clm stks (6) fbs in Jan.
