steadied start, soon switched left, held up, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase winner when rider dropped whip just over 1f out, kept on towards finish
slowly into stride, headway over 6f out, led well over 1f out, soon edged left, ridden out
held up towards rear, switched right well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never troubled leaders
prominent, ridden over 1f out, soon beaten
in touch, raced keenly, lost place over 5f out, progress over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up, headway on outside 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, went 3rd final strides
soon led, headed over 5f out, pressed leader until ridden well over 1f out, soon weakened
soon chasing leader, led over 5f out, headed well over 1f out, soon beaten
led early, prominent, pushed along over 3f out, weakened under pressure over 2f out
It looks worth taking on Old Romney here and we will do so with GIDDYWELL who is preferred to Ghufa. Old Romney won well last time out but he has a 6lbs penalty to cope with here and he also has the worst of the draw, so at the forecast odds the value could lie elsewhere. Giddywell is a course and distance winner and she won with a bit in hand here last time out. She has a good low draw so she should be able to race on the inside throughout and she looks a better bet. Ghufa showed he has ability last year and he remains unexposed, but he may be sharper for this as he has been off the racecourse since October. Spy Gun bounced back to form when chasing home Agilete here last time and his young pilot Josh Wall gets on well with him. However, Giddywell has plenty in her favour and she looks the one to beat.
Old Romney 7-2 (9-5) Raced keenly in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, driven clear, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan beating Middle of Nowhere (9-3) by 2l, 12 ran.
Ghufa (IRE) 7-2fav (9-3) Chased leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace and lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Kerayasi (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct.
Stoic Leader (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) Mid-division, effort over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression, 8th of 18, 5l behind Efidium (8-7) at Redcar 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.
Kirstys Lad 7-2fav (9-6) Mid-division, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 10th of 13, 18l behind Plush (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Everyman 11-1 (10-8) In touch, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 14, 13l behind Hucking Heat (10-7) at Nottingham 1m 2f amt hcp 0-80 (5) gs in Oct.
Giddywell 11-1 (8-9) Held up, headway well over 1f out, carried left entering final furlong, led near finish, driven out, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Jan beating Scutch Mill (8-7) by 2l, 13 ran.
Ruwain 13-2 (9-1) Led, clear over 3f out, headed over 1f out, soon faded, 7th of 13, 14l behind Ben Bacchus (8-6) at Kempton 1m 4f app hcp 0-70 (6) pol in Jan.
Carry On Cleo 25-1 (8-0) Always in the rear, 7th of 10, 16l behind Ridgeway Jazz (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Jan.
Spy Gun (USA) 33-1 (8-7) In touch, ridden over 2f out, driven and kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Agilete (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Jan.
Dynamo Dave (USA) 16-1 (7-11) Held up, pushed along 3f out, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 6l behind General Feeling (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
