Despite his big weight, FRANCO IS MY NAME looks the one to be on. The four-year-old completed a four-timer at the turn of the year and bounced back to form, landing some decent bets in the process, when coming fast and late to snatch the spoils at Kempton last time. Follow The Flag hadn't been showing much on turf during the summer but reverted to Polytrack in style over a mile here last week and has no problems with the extra quarter-mile. Kiss A Prince loves it around here and is just 4lb higher than when storming to victory over the C&D in October but the ex-French Pertuis has a little more to do than when beating the long odds-on Fashionable Gal here last month.
Franco Is My Name 11-4fav (8-11) Steadied start, held up last, smooth headway on outside over 2f out, challenged on bit over 1f out, ridden and rider dropped whip inside final furlong, quickened to lead final 120 yards, comfortably, won at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov beating Denton (9-4) by nk, 7 ran.
Follow The Flag (IRE) 9-1 (8-9) Held up in touch, pushed along over 3f out, hard driven to challenge over 1f out, stayed on under pressure to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov beating Duster (9-3) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Kiss A Prince 4-1 (9-7) In rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on strongly to lead final strides, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct beating Silent Oasis (9-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Aphrodisia 8-1 (9-3) Slowly away, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon one pace, 8th of 14, 13l behind Hendersyde (9-11) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Pertuis (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) In touch, headway to lead and edged left 2f out, ridden clear final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Fashionable Gal (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
I'm In The Pink (FR) 10-1 (9-2) In touch, pushed along over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 7l behind Critical Path (9-5) at Chepstow 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jun.
Dalhaan (USA) 14-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 8l behind Dart (9-8) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
