held up in touch, ridden to challenge over 2f out, soon chasing winner, no extra close home
slowly into stride, held up in rear, hard ridden over 4f out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, clipped heels after 2f, weakened 3f out
held up in rear, not clear run over 2f out, some late headway, never nearer
led, keen hold, headed after 2f, hard ridden to challenge 2f out, kept on
held up in touch, hampered after 2f, soon mid-division, never on terms
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
always behind
mid-division, lost place over 2f out
prominent, led after 2f, headed over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in touch, hampered after 2f, saddle slipped and headway halfway, led over 4f out, headed 2f out, weakened quickly
tracked leaders, led over 1f out, ran on well
chased leaders, led 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra
This looks set to be a hotly-contested handicap so preference for CONFIDENTIALITY is only marginal, with last year's winner Basra a big threat alongside Farleigh House. Michael Wigham's mare bounced back from a spell in the doldrums with a course and distance win back in December before a narrow second over slightly shorter last time. The return to 1m2f will help and she won a very similar contest off this mark here last year, so with recent form in the bag and a workable handicap mark she sets the standard off top-weight. Basra won this race off a pound higher last year and comes into the reckoning on the back of a narrow second over this course and distance last time. In Jamie Spencer this quirky sort has the perfect partner so expect a late flourish as a big run looks virtually assured. Palomar is very well treated on both old flat form and the pick of his hurdles efforts, but with the recent weather problems perhaps this one is being primed on the all-weather for a hurdles contest further down the line and he's best watched for now, with Farleigh House holding more compelling claims. Nick King's charge runs off the same mark as when narrowly denied in October when last on the flat and as he's been kept busy over hurdles since - with some success - he should be fit and ready for action over an ideal distance. Halling Gal won well when last seen in the summer but it's a concern she's since switched yards and this mark looks stiff enough, so despite her unexposed profile she's opposed here with Suzi Spends who is well handicapped on her best form but was put in her place behind our pick last time. Rocky's Pride has occasionally looked better than a 77-rated handicapper but needed the drop to claiming company to return to the winners' enclosure last time and looks quirky, so of more interest is Young Dottie who goes well on artificial surfaces and won in game fashion last time. Prince Picasso weakened behind Confidentiality last time but may have needed that run and warrants respect although he does have plenty to find, whilst December Draw remains capable of further progress but was held in a similar race last time. Indy Driver holds him on that running but on a line through Scamperdale is another with work to do to beat our selection, Confidentiality.
Confidentiality (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Held up in touch, ridden 2f out, stayed on strongly to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Scamperdale (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Palomar (USA) 7-1 (9-7) In mid-division when not clear run on rail inside final 3f, soon ridden and no headway, 9th of 13, 8l behind Pevensey (8-8) at Ascot 1m 4f hcap (2) gs in Sep '06.
Suzi Spends (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, soon recovered into mid-division, headway 2f out, faded well inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Confidentiality (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Basra (IRE) 11-2 (9-6) Keen held up in rear, ridden 2f out, headway between horses entering final furlong, driven to lead well inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 7, hd behind Black N Brew (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Dec.
December Draw (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Poyle Meg (8-13) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Indy Driver 4-1 (8-11) In touch, ridden over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 4l behind Scamperdale (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Rocky's Pride (IRE) 4-5fav (9-0) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, driven out final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 2f clm stks (6) in Dec beating Hector Spectre (8-5) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Outofoil (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 8l behind Eastern Empire (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
Halling Gal 9-2 (9-0) Held up, headway over 3f out, soon ridden, staying on when not clear run and switched left over 1f out, finished strongly to lead final strides, won at Goodwood 1m 1f fll mdn stks (5) gd in Jun beating Queen Eleanor (9-0) by hd, 9 ran.
Prince Picasso 8-1 (8-6) Reared before stalls opened, chased leader until over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 5l behind Confidentiality (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Young Dottie 6-1 (8-13) Mid-division, pushed along and headway entering final 2f, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, led final strides, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec beating Mister Green (9-1) by nk, 11 ran.
Mister Green (FR) 4-1fav (9-4) Mid-division, headway under pressure over 1f out, never on terms, 5th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Hereford Boy (8-10) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Hurakan (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, soon rushed up to chase leader, hard ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure, 4th of 12, 1 1/4l behind Totally Focussed (9-3) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Farleigh House (USA) 15-8fav (9-6) In touch, good headway to track leading pair 2f out, hard ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, finished well to take 2nd near finish, not reached winner, 2nd of 13, nk behind Ithinkbest (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
