held up in rear, ridden and ran on final furlong nearest finish
chased leading trio, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
chased leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
chased leading trio, ridden and weakened final furlong
led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, ran on
always in rear
always prominent, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
slowly into stride, soon pushed along in rear
We will side with Lady Hopeful, with Cark and Question Mark given as the main dangers. Lady Hopeful comes here on a roll, having won her last two and, seeing that she is on good terms with herself, looks set to run a big race again, even though those wins have come at Wolverhampton. Amber Nectar Two also comes here on the back of a good run, when narrowly beaten over six furlongs here by Boanerges, and a repeat of that effort gives him claims. Course and distance winner Cark is six pounds better off for the length-and-a-quarter that the selection beat him last time, but has a very good chance based on literal form. Legal Set is held on that form, although he is weighted to beat the selection based on Lady Hopeful's earlier Wolverhampton success. Innclassic has place claims, while Question Mark showed a lot of improvement when second here over a furlong further last time, and he is entitled to respect based on that effort, but A Teen needs to turn back the clock in order to feature. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Lady Hopeful.
Lady Hopeful (IRE) 9-2fav (8-11) Slowly into stride, soon switched to inside rail, headway on inside 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, ran on well to lead close home, won at W'hampton 5f stk (7) pol beating Cark (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Amber Nectar Two 11-1 (8-11) Midfield, headway and short of room final furlong, switched, ran on, unlucky, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Boanerges (8-11) at Lingfield 6f stk (7) pol.
A Teen 9-1 (8-11) Led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 12, 4l behind Soul Provider (8-11) at Southwell 5f stk (7) fbs.
Innclassic (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) Chased winner, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 10, 3l behind Leah's Pride (8-11) at Lingfield 5f stk (7) pol.
Jasmine Pearl (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Behind, some late headway, 7th of 16, 3 1/2l behind Forest Dane (8-12) at Brighton 5f stk (7) gd in Oct.
Legal Set (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, went wide into straight, 9th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Lady Hopeful (8-11) at W'hampton 5f stk (7) pol.
Question Mark 9-2 (8-10) Held up, effort over 1f out, soon every chance, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Dorn Hill (8-9) at Lingfield 6f mdn clm (7) pol.
Rock Fever (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (8-11) Slowly into stride, behind, ridden, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest at finish, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Secret Vision (9-3) at W'hampton 6f stk (7) pol.
Taipan Tommy (IRE) 2-1fav (9-0) Slowly into stride, always in rear, 8th of 9, 5l behind Dorn Hill (8-9) at Lingfield 6f mdn clm (7) pol.
Cark 5-1 (8-11) Led, ridden approaching final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Lady Hopeful (8-11) at W'hampton 5f stk (7) pol.