tracked leaders, lost place over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, carried right on bend approaching straight, kept on
tracked leaders and keen, ridden 1f out, led well inside final furlong, ran on
held up, headway on inside 2f out, every chance, not quicken well inside final furlong
led, ridden over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden and ran wide on bend over 1f out, soon held
hampered soon after start, lost place, behind, tailed off over 3f out
AEROPLANE is our selection in this contest with Docofthebay and Councellor respected. There's no getting away from the fact that Aeroplane's latest effort was lamentable but with Jamie Spencer replacing Hayley Turner, this quirky sort might just decide that that was just a bad day at the office and he could consent to go back to winning ways. Docofthebay is the class act in this race. A regular in the top handicaps on the turf last season, anything he does here will presumably pale into insignificance later in the year. Councellor always promised to be a half-decent horse and he cannot be crabbed for two victories at this course and at Southwell. Indeed, the form when he finished behind Nightjar looks highly promising granted that horse's rise up the pecking order. Orchard Supreme is useful though has little chance in handicaps due to his consistency. These races are an ideal vehicle these days. Fajr is capable though quirky in the extreme. He cannot get enough cover early doors. Capricorn Run would have been much better off were this a handicap while claiming winner, Silver Wind looks to have been a speculative entry. The remainder have no place in races of this grade. Aeroplane is taken to bounce back.
Capricorn Run (USA) 10-1 (8-8) Mid-division, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden and effort over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Red Somerset (8-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Orchard Supreme 3-1 (9-5) Held up, ridden 2f out, some late progress, not reach leaders, 5th of 8, 5l behind Banknote (8-12) at Lingfield 1m stk (3) pol in Dec.
Aeroplane 5-4fav (9-5) Steadied start, settled in 5th and well adrift, plenty to do 2f out, stayed on, left 3rd inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 6, 5l behind Contest (9-12) at Lingfield 6f stk (3) pol.
Councellor (FR) 6-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, led over 2f out, kept on, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-100 (2) fbs beating Majuro (9-4) by 1l, 7 ran.
Fire Up The Band 22-1 (11-13) Slowly into stride, hampered during start, no impression from halfway, 9th of 14, 11l behind Tenancy (9-12) at Musselburgh 5f amt hcp (6) sft in Nov.
Silver Wind 11-4 (9-7) Always prominent, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 7f clm (6) pol beating Kabis Amigos (8-9) by a ns, 9 ran.
Wotavadun (IRE) 100-1 (8-4) Steadied start, always rear, lost touch 4f out, tailed off final 3f, last of 11, 43l behind Doubtful Sound (8-6) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Docofthebay (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, raced centre, held up, pushed along over 3f out, always behind, 26th of 28, 29l behind Tazeez (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gf in Oct.
Fajr (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Steadied start and settled in rear, ridden and close enough 2f out, no headway over 1f out, one pace, last of 9, 5l behind Red Somerset (8-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
