A narrow-margin winner at Kempton, MEDICEAN EL DIABLO won more convincingly when stepped up to this grade over track and trip last time. There looks more to come from him and he’s just preferred to Baltic Prince. The latter drops back in distance after a second at Kempton and makes more appeal than recent Lingfield runner-up Rivers Of Asia. Garter is another to consider on recent form, though she’s upped in class, but top weight Clement and the returning False Id look high enough in the weights.
Clement (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Dwelt, in touch, headway approaching final furlong, not clear run and switched right inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, 4th of 10, 3l behind Ballylare (9-5) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Varsovian 15-2 (9-3) Raced wide in touch, outpaced over 1f out, ridden and ran on close home, 6th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Swiss Cross (9-5) at Lingfield 6f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Baltic Prince (IRE) 5-2fav (9-9) Led and set decent pace, pushed along and headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Believe It (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Rivers Of Asia 7-1 (9-6) Led, ridden 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Byres Road (9-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Tabla 3-1jfav (9-6) Tracked leaders, effort on inner approaching final furlong, no impression inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Black Caesar (9-5) at Lingfield 7f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
False Id 7-1 (9-0) Held up, in 4th, ridden and no impression over 1f out, weakened soon after, 6th of 8, 10 3/4l behind Able Jack (9-7) at Sandown 7f hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Garter (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind Fire Diamond (8-13) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Medicean El Diablo 5-1 (8-13) Keen, held up, headway on inner over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (5) pol in Dec beating Higher Court (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
