slowly into stride, switched and headway over 2f out, ridden and edged left, led 1f out, soon clear
led, ridden over 2f out and headed, weakened over 1f out
broke well, outpaced from halfway
tracked leaders and keen, led well over 2f out, hard ridden and headed 1f out, faded
slowly into stride, switched right after 2f and headway to chase leaders, ridden 2f out, switched right again approaching final furlong, kept on
tracked leaders on inside, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, soon held by winner
Few runners for a paltry prize and Mafaheem can land this with Macademy Royal and Lucius Verrus the obvious alternatives. Mafaheem is relatively consistent in minor company and with two recent successes to his name, he is likely to be priced accordingly on balance. Course and distance are fine and he should run his race. Macademy Royal finished behind the selection when the pair met on 2 January. He was beaten entirely on merit on that occasion and he will need to find something from somewhere to turn around the form. Lucius Verrus might be better over seven, rather than six, furlongs but at least a recent run around here, represented a step in the right direction. Paddywack has produced a few stinkers of late but his yard did have a winner earlier in the week so he shouldn't be ignored in the event of any market confidence. Tang failed to show in a dire contest earlier in the week and is hard to visualise as a likely winner here. Geordie Dancer hasnt beat much home of late and makes little appeal even at this lowly level. Mafaheem is hardly one for the mortgage but he makes infinitely more appeal than most in this contest.
Mafaheem 11-8fav (8-12) Held up, headway to lead over 1f out, edged right towards finish, driven out, won at W'hampton 6f clm (6) pol beating Chatshow (8-7) by a hd, 8 ran.
Geordie Dancer (IRE) 66-1 (8-11) Chased leaders to halfway, last of 7, 11l behind High Reach (9-0) at Southwell 5f sll (6) fbs.
Lucius Verrus (USA) 11-1 (8-10) In touch, no impression over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to take 2nd final strides, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Northern Desert (8-5) at W'hampton 7f sll (6) pol.
Macademy Royal (USA) 5-2 (8-13) Always prominent, slightly hampered over 1f out, carried right inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Mafaheem (9-7) at W'hampton 6f sll (6) pol.
Paddywack (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden 3f out, kept on moderately, 4th of 8, 5l behind Garlogs (8-6) at W'hampton 5f hcp (6) pol.
Tang 16-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, hung right over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 13, 8l behind Charlotte Grey (9-0) at W'hampton 6f app stk (7) pol.
