held up in touch, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, stayed on strongly
prominent, led after 3f, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway to join leader over 5f out, weakened well over 2f out, eased over 1f out
led early, tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, chased leaders approaching final furlong, kept on same pace closing stages
soon led, headed after 3f, under pressure over 4f out, weakened over 3f out
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on well final furlong
FLASHMAN's short-head defeat over track and trip by the progressive Duchess Of Marmite gives him leading claims. He was giving the latter plenty of weight on that occasion and collateral form should see him get the better of Scarlet Minstrel. Andrew Balding's charge went close behind Duchess Of Marmite at Kempton last time while Villa Royale was placed at Southwell on her latest start and has won off a higher mark before. Mick Duggan was narrowly beaten at Lingfield recently but is upped a grade for this.
Flashman 8-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, joined over 1f out, headed narrowly inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 6, shd behind Duchess Of Marmite (8-7) at Chelmsford City 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Villa Royale 4-1 (9-12) Pressed leader until ridden to lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 5, 2l behind Frosty Berry (9-7) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Russian Bolero (GER) 28-1 (9-10) Held up in 7th, pushed along 3f out, soon outpaced, plugged on into modest 4th well inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 8l behind Sign Of A Victory (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Mick Duggan 9-2 (9-12) Led, ridden and joined inside final furlong, headed close home, 3rd of 8, shd behind Cotillion (9-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Glan Y Gors (IRE) 8-1 (8-3) Held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 13 3/4l behind Second Wave (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Arcamante (ITY) 9-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6th until after 4 out, weakened approaching next, 8th of 11, 34 1/4l behind Chitu (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 3f mdn (5) gs in Nov.
Laser Blazer 14-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, behind, outpaced over 2f out, headway over 1f out, never nearer, 5th of 7, 1 1/4l behind Dolphin Village (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Scarlet Minstrel 7-2 (8-13) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, held close home, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Duchess Of Marmite (9-1) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Dec.