held up mid-division, ridden 2f out, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon edged left, kept on, unable to quicken inside final furlong
led after 1f, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden to press winner over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
dwelt, soon mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, not pace to challenge
held up in last place, ridden and still last over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish
led 1f, tracked leader after, ridden to lead again over 1f out, edged left and stayed on inside final furlong
help up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
The way FYODOR won last time you'd be hard pressed to say that 7lb extra would stop him here so we will take him to follow up at the main expense of Diriculous and perhaps Maltese Falcon. The selection dotted up by what looked plenty more in hand than the official two length margin suggested, with today's opponent Biniou second, and facing a tough task trying to reverse those placings. Diriculous loves it around here, with two course and distance wins to his name, and the Terry Mills-trained gelding has gone close twice since one of those successes, so we expect to see him bang there despite being raised 3lb to a career-high mark of 100. Maltese Falcon is a Lingfield specialist making his Great Leighs debut and he has won from marks higher than this in the past, so if he handles this track then he should be involved from his current rating, though as another going up for a defeat he is not one to lump on. Beat The Bell looks to be too high in the weights for now and preference is for Fyodor
Fyodor (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Always travelling well in mid-division, smooth headway from over 1f out, shaken up to lead inside final furlong, pushed clear, comfortable, won at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov beating Biniou (8-13) by 2l, 9 ran.
Diriculous 7-2jt-fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, switched right entering final 2f, soon ridden, pressed winner inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Prohibit (9-0) at Great Leighs 6f stk (3) pol in Oct.
Maltese Falcon 14-1 (9-2) Led until headed just over 1f out, soon outpaced by winner, kept on well for 2nd, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Duff (9-4) at Lingfield 6f lst stk (1) pol in Nov.
Beat The Bell 10-1 (8-5) Behind in touch, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, not pace to challenge, 4th of 10, 3l behind Atlantic Story (9-8) at Lingfield 7f hcap (2) pol in Nov.
Biniou (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, headway when not much room over 1f out, ridden and ran on final furlong to take 2nd post, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Fyodor (9-4) at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Matsunosuke 9-4fav (8-13) Went right start, soon steadied into mid-division, hampered over 2f out, came wide into straight, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 9, 3l behind Arganil (8-10) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Lone Wolfe 9-2 (8-10) Tracked leader, led 2f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Fyodor (9-4) at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Vhujon (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Behind, ridden and made some headway final furlong, no danger, 7th of 9, 5l behind Arganil (8-10) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.