pulled hard, tracked leading pair, smooth headway over 2f out, soon challenging, chased winner soon after, hard driven over 1f out, stayed on reluctantly towards finish
led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened final furlong and lost 3rd final 100 yards
soon tracking leader, ridden inside final 3f, unable to quicken 2f out, rallied to 3rd, final 100 yards
chased leading pair, pushed along 3f out, weakened quickly over 2f out, eased when beaten final furlong
held up last, in touch, headway on outside over 2f out, soon challenging, led well over 1f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong and always doing enough
This is a tight claimer and narrow preference is for SHAKALAKA ahead of Leulahleulahlay and Hector Spectre. The selection has a big chance if he can get anywhere near the form he showed here on his last run at this track when he finished a close fourth behind Luc Jordan in a handicap. He is dropped into a claimer today and the longer trip should suit so he makes plenty of appeal. Leulahleulahlay could be the main danger because although he has been a little disappointing over hurdles of late, he had previously gone close on the flat and Evan Williams has been in good form this week. Hector Spectre ran his best race for a while at Lingfield earlier in the week when he finished a close third behind Chalice Welcome and a reproduction of that effort would give him a chance. Fleur de Lion has yet to get her head in front in 15 previous attempts on the all-weather so she is hard to fancy, while Persian Tomcat looks to have plenty to find with the rest. We will stick with Shakalaka as our choice to get his head in front.
Shakalaka (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Held up in touch, went 3rd over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Troopingthecolour (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Hector Spectre (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Close up on inner, went 2nd well over 1f out until not quicken inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Chalice Welcome (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Leulahleulahlay 14-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, challenged 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 7l behind My Chestnut Girl (8-12) at Ripon 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gd in Aug.
Persian Tomcat (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Held up in last pair, ridden and struggling 3f out, 6th of 7, 16l behind Why Nee Amy (8-12) at Kempton 1m 2f app clm stks 0-70 (6) pol in Nov.
Fleur de Lion (IRE) 7-1 (8-4) Raced in 3rd behind clear leader, went 2nd inside final 4f, closed over 2f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Satwa Gold (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo clm stks (6) pol in Nov.
