refused to race, took no part
led, ridden and headed inside final 2f, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, going well, chased leader approaching final furlong, ran on under pressure to lead last stride
in rear, pushed along 3f out, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
behind, kept on final furlong, never able to challenge
keen hold and held up, headway 2f out, stayed on take 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final 2f, hard driven and ran on final furlong, caught last stride
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden and outpaced 2f out, kept on final furlong, but no danger
in touch, pushed along halfway, weakened 2f out
keen hold and tracked leaders on inner, ridden 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong
Our shortlisted three are Midnight Lace, Bethany Mac and and Mina A Saleem, with the vote going to the last-named. The selection comes into this race having been raised three pounds for a course and distance success. Lightly raced and open to improvement, he strikes us having more improvement to come and, accordingly, gets our vote although the draw could have been kinder. Irish import Bethany Mac does not look too badly handicapped on his form of across the water, and is respected, while Midnight Lace has really got the hang of things of late, winning two of her last three races, and looks capable of improving further. Of the others, Obezyana's Pontefract maiden win has been let down this week, Boundless Prospect, who has won from a higher mark on Turf, does not seem so good on the all-weather, Savoy Chapel would need to rediscover his course and distance winning form from April, and Hand Chime is actually weighted to reverse form with Midnight Lace based on their seven-furlong claiming efforts here in October. Overall, though, we are happy to side with Mina A Saleem.
Battling Mac (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Held up, progress into 9th 2f out, kept on, 5th of 14, 6l behind Fitzroy (9-8) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp 0-90 gf in Oct.
Habshan (USA) 13-2 (9-1) Mid-division, headway under pressure 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Banknote (9-1) at Windsor 1m hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Obezyana (USA) 16-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on final furlong, won at Pontefract 1m 3yo mdn (5) gd in Oct beating Elizabethan Age (8-9) by 2l, 12 ran.
Burgundy 5-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, headway from 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 12, 3l behind Stargazer Jim (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f app hcp (5) pol.
Boundless Prospect (USA) 9-2 (9-0) Raced wide, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on to take 2nd final 75 yards, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Hits Only Heaven (8-13) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Sonny Parkin 20-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, headway under pressure on inside when hampered 1f out, kept on after, 6th of 12, 4l behind Hits Only Heaven (8-13) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Mina A Salem 8-1 (9-1) With leader, led over 2f out, in command over 1f out, driven and stayed on well, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct beating Cross The Line (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Savoy Chapel 40-1 (9-0) Always towards rear, 10th of 12, 6l behind Dr Thong (9-3) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Kindlelight Debut 11-4fav (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 6l behind Nephetriti Way (9-3) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Midnight Lace 16-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at W'hampton 1m 1f fll hcp (5) pol beating Cantarna (9-2) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Hand Chime 7-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders to over 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Vienna's Boy (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct.
Law Breaker (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Hits Only Heaven (8-13) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
