tracked leaders in 4th, joined leaders 6f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up in rear, driven to take moderate 3rd 3f out, weakened over 1f out
with leader to over 6f out, soon driven along, weakened and behind final 3f
slowly into stride, held up in last pair, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong to take 3rd towards finish
made most to over 6f out, outpaced 3f out, no chance after
tracked leader, led over 6f out, joined and hard ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, not quick inside final furlong
held up towards rear, closed over 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, stayed on well
held up in 6th, driven along 4f out, hard ridden 2f out, soon beaten
held up in last pair, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd final 150 yards
Spitting Image gets the confident vote here with Gibraltar Bay and Moon Emperor rating the main dangers. The selection was a fair second behind Oldenway last time but, with the step up in trip in his favour off a handy mark, he will be hard to beat. Gibraltar Bay rates the main danger on his latest second behind Willhego, but that form has since been let down and for that reason he is opposed. Moon Emperor has been in the form of his life of late but this is more competitive and he looks vulnerable off this revised mark. Of the remainder, Reggae Rhythm is from a yard in form and could go well at a price but he may just need the run after a 57-day absence and, for the winner, we return to Spitting Image who gets the confident vote.
Gibraltar Bay (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) Led, hard pressed from over 1f out, stayed on well, headed post, 2nd of 15, shd behind Willhego (8-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Moon Emperor 7-1 (9-4) In touch, led well over 1f out, soon ridden clear, ran on, won at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating Caraman (9-8) by 5l, 12 ran.
Salute (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Always towards rear, struggling over 2f out, 14th of 15, 10l behind Willhego (8-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
High Point (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Held up mid-division, ridden 6f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 11, 15l behind Indian Pipe Dream (9-5) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Oct.
Monte Cristo (FR) 8-1 (9-9) Prominent, ridden and every chance well over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 9l behind Moon Emperor (9-4) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Reggae Rhythm (IRE) 13-2 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, pushed clear, won at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Dec beating Bank On Benny (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Beauchamp Trump 16-1 (8-7) Mid-division, weakened over 4f out, 8th of 9, 41l behind Piper General (8-8) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Spitting Image (IRE) 1-2fav (9-9) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden, one pace final 2f, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Oldenway (9-2) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
