held up in rear, headway well over 1f out, soon ridden to challenge, hung left inside final furlong, kept on well
led after 2f, driven and headed well over 1f out, no extra
led 2f, remained prominent, led on bit well over 1f out, driven out
tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, effort over 2f out, soon outpaced
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, hard driven and chased winner over 1f out, soon one pace
held up in rear, driven 3f out, soon beaten
TAIKOO heads our shortlist for this mile and three quarters handicap, but Benedict Spirit and Clear Reef will have their supporters too. Hughie Morrison does well here, but Taikoo's best all-weather efforts have come at Southwell, including last time out when impressively making all to win a lower grade race. He looks the sort who could go hurdling in time. He's now racing off his highest ever mark, but still has a few of pounds in hand on Clear Reef. Jane Chapple-Hyam's colt won well at Wolverhamton on Boxing Day but then blobbed when trying to follow up that success. He's is one of only two here to have won at this distance, that was at Southwell, the other being Nobelix. Benedict Spirit has won three from three on the fibresand, but fallen short here. Chasing a hat-trick, he's unpenbalised with the last win being an apprentices' race, and with a jockey claim he's got more than a stone in hand. It looks like it could be tightly contested in the betting ring as well as on the track, but we'll side with Taikoo.
Clear Reef 9-2 (9-3) Chased leader, led 9f out, headed 3f out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 17l behind Cape Express (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Taikoo 4-5fav (9-4) Made all, clear over 2f, pushed out final furlong, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec beating Il Grande Ardone (9-3) by 10l, 4 ran.
Nobelix (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (9-10) Led, headed 2f out, soon ridden, faded inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 6l behind Lochiel (9-6) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Dec.
Mistress Eva 7-1 (8-3) Behind, kept on final 2f, never nearer, 6th of 16, 7l behind Spirit of Adjisa (8-11) at Bath 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Oct.
Benedict Spirit (IRE) 7-4jt-fav (9-2) Held up behind leaders, smooth headway over 2f, led well over 1f, ridden out final furlong, won at Southwell 1m 4f app hcp (5) fbs beating Chookie Hamilton (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Baan (USA) 6-1 (9-3) In touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Dayia (9-11) at Great Leighs 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Pulled hard, led 8f out, headed over 3f out, weakened rapidly, tailed off, last of 12, 26l behind Risque Heights (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct '07.
