soon outpaced, never a factor
slowly into stride, always behind
outpaced in mid-division, behind from halfway
chased leaders, pulled hard early, weakened halfway
tracked leaders, chased winner over 3f out, kept on same final 2f
tracked leaders, led over 4f out, held on well
slowly into stride, always behind
prominent, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out
in touch, outpaced over 3f out, headway over 2f out, kept on well
chased leaders, outpaced over 3f out, headway over 1f out, soon chasing winner, stayed on
held up in touch, outpaced over 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on well, nearest finish
soon led, headed over 4f out, ridden to challenge over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, behind, never dangerous
In a real pinsticker of a race, the shortlisted three are Blushing Russian, The Job and Legal Lover, with the vote going to The Job. Raised four pounds for a good run over a mile here last time, Crocodile Kiss would hold chances on that. Justcallmehandsome is 10 pounds better off for four-and-a-half lengths from that contest, while Golden Spectrum is still well-weighted on his Turf form and holds place claims on his recent best. Blushing Russian likes it here and is on a competitive mark, and The Job's course and distance second from today's mark last time gives him a shout. Cheeney Basin is well-weighted on old form but seems to have lost his way. Legal Lover is another that generally runs well here and has to be respected, while Legacy pulled a rabbit out of the hat at Wolverhampton last time and, if performing as well on this surface, should go well. Major Speculation is dropping in grade all the time so can't be entirely ruled out, while Mutared is a dual winner here and is another that could make a place. Spy Gun is just a pound above his course and distance win in November so can't be ruled out on that basis. It is hard to build a strong case for the others which returns us to that pin, which opted for The Job. Well, at least he comes here in form.
Crocodile Kiss (IRE) 9-2 (8-9) In touch, outpaced halfway, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Sound And Vision (9-0) at Southwell 1m mdn claim (7) fbs.
Blushing Russian (IRE) 13-2 (9-1) Mid-division, headway and carried right over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 13, 5l behind Legacy (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 1f app banded (7) pol.
The Job 16-1 (9-1) Behind, headway over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, nearest finish, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Magic Amour (9-5) at Southwell 7f banded stk (7) fbs.
Legal Lover (IRE) 15-2 (8-8) Led, headed over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 11, 16l behind Greenbelt (8-11) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) fbs in Dec.
Golden Spectrum (IRE) 9-2 (8-5) Always behind, 9th of 12, 11l behind Danettie (8-12) at Lingfield 1m banded stk (7) pol in Dec.
Legacy (JPN) 14-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead last strides, won at W'hampton 1m 1f app banded (7) pol beating New England (9-8) by a hd, 13 ran.
Major Speculation (IRE) 4-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up, ridden over 2f out, never troubled leaders, 6th of 9, 7l behind Danettie (9-1) at Lingfield 1m banded stk (7) pol in Dec.
Mutared (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Led, ridden and headed and no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Mad (8-12) at Lingfield 1m banded stk (7) pol in Dec.
