held up, headway over 3f out, edged left 1f out, led inside final furlong, just held on
chased leaders, ridden to dispute 2nd over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, not much room over 5f out, pushed along 4f out, headway 3f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along on outer over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, in rear, headway over 2f out, hung left and weakened over 1f out
chased leader, ridden well over 1f out, edged left approaching final furlong, one pace
not clear run on inside on bend after 1f and lost place, held up, not clear run and switched right over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, just failed
slowly into stride, held up, pushed along 3f out, headway over 1f out, soon no impression
chased leaders, ridden and lost place 4f out, kept on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders
slowly into stride, soon driven along, headway over 5f out, ridden and edged left 4f out, soon weakened
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, unable to quicken
A very poor contest that we don't dwell on for too long but Desert Lover may provide the answer, with Epidaurian King and Kindkintyre others for the short list. Desert Lover went well when fourth over c&d last week and has a couple of wins to his name here. He is now 3lb below his last winning mark and can finally take advantage to score again. Epidaurian King won a poor Lingfield handicap last time and comes from a yard in form. He will probably go off favourite here but consistency ain't his strong point and he does not look a good thing. Kindkintyre has been running into form of late without yet winning and it looks certain that he will prodice more than on his two previous tries here, and after a 1lb drop he could be the big danger. There are others who would have chances on their best form but they look unlikely to give that, so we will side with Desert Lover.
Epidaurian King (IRE) 15-2 (8-8) Mid-division, good headway over 1f out, ran on to lead final 100 yards and asserted towards finish, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Dec beating Takaamul (8-10) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Cyfrwys (IRE) 20-1 (7-12) In touch, ridden over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, no impression, 6th of 9, 4l behind Green Lagonda (9-3) at W'hampton 6f clm (6) pol in Dec.
Desert Lover (IRE) 5-1 (8-3) Slowly into stride, held up, headway on outside over 2f out, hung left from over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Mister Always (8-9) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Dec.
James Street (IRE) 15-2 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 5l behind Haroldini (9-0) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) fbs in Dec.
Just Crystal 8-1 (8-2) Headway 6f out, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 9, 21l behind Machinate (9-6) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Kindkintyre (IRE) 10-1 (8-7) Chased leader, ridden to lead 3f out, headed 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Haroldini (9-0) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) fbs in Dec.
Mr Chocolate Drop (IRE) 66-1 (9-1) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, driven over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 12, 10l behind Meeting of Minds (8-9) at Southwell 1m sll (6) fbs in Dec.
Pawn In Life (IRE) 100-1 (8-7) Tracked winner and keen, weakened over 2f out, soon eased, last of 11, 26l behind Mister Jingles (8-11) at Beverley 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Aug.
Steel Grey 33-1 (9-3) Held up, well behind over 3f out, 12th of 13, 43l behind Moyoko (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Sept.
Telling 14-1 (8-9) Dwelt, raced keenly, stumbled over 5f out, headway over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, edged left final furlong, 5th of 10, 1l behind Shantina's Dream (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Dec.
Temtation (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, soon headed, ridden, no extra final furlong, 4th of 8, 6l behind Mister Elegant (9-0) at Southwell 6f sll (6) fbs in Dec.
Miss Sure Bond (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, soon intouch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 12, 27l behind Confidentiality (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
