Kings Shillings won well last time and is preferred today to the likes of Pietersen and Strike Force. The selection proved that he is suited by racing on the polytrack when scoring decisively here last time to get the better of Time For Change. He remains unexposed and should be hard to beat. Pieterson has the plum draw and he has been in good form, but he does not look entirely straightforward and his tendency to hang under pressure puts us off him. Strike Force failed to settle last time and the likelihood is that he will find this trip too sharp. Fealeview Lady has a good draw and is not without hope, but Kings Shillings has plenty in his favour and can land the prize.
Hephaestus 14-1 (8-3) Tracked leaders, soon pushed along, kept on one pace, last of 4, 8l behind Yungaburra (9-7) at W'hampton 5f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Cherri Fosfate 11-2 (8-8) Went left start, held up, ridden over 2f out, no headway, 8th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Comrade Cotton (8-2) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Fealeview Lady (USA) 3-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 2 1/2l behind Serengeti (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn (5) pol in Dec.
Strike Force 12-1 (9-4) Led, headed over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 3l behind Global Traffic (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Satyricon 13-2 (9-1) Held up, headway 3f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, won at Kempton 7f 3yo app hcp (6) pol beating Ella Woodcock (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Ella Woodcock (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) In rear, plenty to do over 2f out, headway on inner 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Satyricon (9-1) at Kempton 7f 3yo app hcp (6) pol.
Krakatau (FR) 9-1 (9-3) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Daddy Cool (9-0) at Kempton 5f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Jan.
Pietersen (IRE) 5-1 (8-10) Chased leaders on outside, bumped and lost place 4f out, came wide entering straight, headway 1f out, ran on, 3rd of 12, 1/2l behind Convivial Spirit (8-13) at W'hampton 6f 3yo hcp (6) pol.
Kings Shillings 5-1 (8-10) Held up, headway entering straight, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 7f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Jan beating Time For Change (8-13) by 2l, 12 ran.
Newport Lass (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Held up, outpaced 2f out, weakened 1f out, 7th of 8, 13l behind Ava's World (8-9) at Catterick 6f 2yo mdn (5) gf in Sept.
Homes By Woodford 12-1 (8-13) Took keen hold, held up, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 5th of 8, 2l behind Nassmaan (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 3yo hcp (5) std.
