held up, not far away, ridden and outpaced 2f out, rallied and stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong
led 2f, pressed leader after, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed towards finish
held up but not far away, headway and switched right over 1f out, pressed leader entering final furlong, ridden to lead towards finish
tracked leading pair, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong
led after 2f, ridden 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened
close up, ridden and weakened over 1f out
close up, ridden 3f out, weakened 1f out
A small field but several with chances in an open looking contest and we will take SPIRITUAL ART to defy a ratings rise ahead of Beautiful Filly and the bang in-form Ocean Countess. Paul Doe was aboard the selection when she took a course and distance handicap last time off a mark of 71, that effort due reward for two placed efforts at the track beforehand, and a 4lb higher mark may be within this improving filly's reach. The former Simon Callaghan trained horse has looked a natural on this surface and raced prominently on her way to victory last time out. In the hope that the jockey produces similar tactics today we can see her bouncing out of stall 3 and repelling all dangers to prompt another rise in the ratings. Beautiful Filly is another three-year-old filly at the top of her game having landed a decent Wolverhampton contest of 3lb lower on her penultimate start before finding the in-form La Gifted too hot to handle last time. A short break may well have helped David Simcock's horse although a doubt remains over whether this mile trip will suit as the daughter of Oasis Dream's one try over the distance resulted in a well beaten seventh at Bath. Ocean Countess arrives here in search of a four-timer and must be taken seriously having rattled off a hat-trick at Brighton. Julia Fielding's filly has been beaten out of sight on her two all-weather appearances to date but it may just be that she returns to artificial surfaces a different animal and under capable 3lb claimer Andrea Atzeni can go very well from the inside stall. Very few can be ruled out in this heat including the mare Support Fund who has looked up to going close off this mark of late whilst top weight Daddy's Gift would look thrown in on old form but didn't look to be up to defying a mark of 83 when last seen and so we return to Spiritual Art to land this mile contest.
Daddy's Gift (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Went left start, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 9l behind Global City (8-12) at Lingfield 6f stks (3yo+) (3) pol.
Nora Mae (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Held up, kept on from over 1f out, 7th of 12, 2 1/2l behind The Kyllachy Kid (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
My Best Bet 20-1 (9-2) Behind, headway over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Steel Stockholder (7-13) at Doncaster 7f 3yo app hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Spiritual Art 4-1fav (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway and edged left approaching final furlong, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating Shaded Edge (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Beautiful Filly 4-1fav (8-8) Held up, came wide straight, ridden on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind La Gifted (8-4) at Wolverhampton 7f fll hcp (0-75) (3yo+) (5) pol in Oct.
Support Fund (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Held up behind, switched outside 2f out, driven and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong to go 3rd near finish, not reach leaders, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Dinner Date (8-10) at Kempton 1m app hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Ocean Countess (IRE) 4-1fav (9-3) Held up in rear, good headway over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, stayed on well, driven out, won at Brighton 1m hcp 0-63 (6) gd in Oct beating Lady Florence (9-2) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
