in touch travelling well, smooth headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on well
pressed leaders, ridden and weakening when not much room well over 1f out
always behind
pressed leader, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, not quicken and lost 2nd towards finish
held up in rear, came wide into straight, ridden and edged left approaching final furlong, never a factor
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
raced wide, mid-division, ridden and one pace when edged left over 1f out
slowly away, held up in rear, headway and switched right well over 1f out, ridden and ran on to take 2nd towards finish, no impression
held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
Frank Sheridan is a canny operator so Albero Di Guida but DESPERATE DAN is a canny old horse and is selected here ahead of Another Socket. The selection, a veteran of 65 races with 10 wins to his name, comes here on the back of just a modest effort in defeat behind Ten Down at Lingfield. However he wasn't well-drawn on that occasion and from a better berth today back at his favourite track he could be hard to beat. Orpen's Art has a chance at these weights but recent displays have been lacklustre, so of more interest may be Another Socket. He is rated the same as Albero Di Guida and each needs to improve on recent efforts but that is entirely possible. With the exception of course and distance winner Fizzlephut the rest have plenty to find at the weights and so it is Desperate Dan who can have a dandy time.
Desperate Dan 9-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Ten Down (8-10) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Fizzlephut (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Taken to post early, outpaced in rear of main group, driven and hung left over 1f out, kept on to go 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 6l behind The Magic Blanket (8-10) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-65 (6) std.
Ben 12-1 (8-12) Mid-division, effort over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 5l behind Nawaaff (8-11) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Feb.
Nordic Light (USA) 33-1 (8-8) Chased leaders over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 13, 33l behind Convince (8-10) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-50 (6) fbs.
Orpen's Art (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) Prominent, wide straight inside final 2f, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous final furlong, 6th of 8, 6l behind Romantic Verse (8-11) at W'hampton 6f sll (6) pol.
Sandy Par 40-1 (8-4) Raced stands' side, chased leaders, weakening when carried left over 1f out, 10th of 15, 12l behind Tyrannosaurus Rex (9-2) at Nottingham 5f hcp (6) gd in Aug.
Spanish Ace 4-1 (9-0) With leaders, led inside final 2f, driven and headed approaching final furlong, no extra inside final furlong and lost 2nd final strides, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Meikle Barfil (9-3) at Kempton 5f stk (7) pol.
Albero di Giuda (IRE) 12-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, behind and soon switched left, headway over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Grimes Faith (8-11) at Southwell 5f sll (6) fbs.
Another Socket 8-1 (9-4) Dwelt, pushed up to be in touch in main group, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out, 7th of 10, 10l behind The Magic Blanket (8-10) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-65 (6) std.
Distant Vision (IRE) 20-1 (8-6) Always towards rear, 11th of 13, 7l behind Sunley Sovereign (8-6) at Hamilton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) sft in Sept.
Rann Na Cille (IRE) 7-1 (8-3) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, no extra, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Mujma (8-8) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-50 (6) pol.
