led 1f, tracked leaders after, chased leader 2f out, stayed on steadily final furlong to lead final strides
tracked leader, ridden well over 2f out, lost 2nd over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, took keen hold early, held up in rear, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous
held up, hard ridden 5f out, no impression 2f out, kept on and went 3rd from over 1f out, never dangerous
led after 1f, hard ridden over 2f out, pressed inside final furlong, head final strides
It's difficult to get away from Champagne Shadow with Smokey The Bear taken to get the better of Critical Stage in the race for second. The selection is rated 12lbs higher than anything else in the field, comes here in form and looks to have been found a decent opportunity. His latest win came over one mile six but he's fully effective at this trip and should prove hard to beat. Critical Stage is second best at the weights and comes here fit from hurdling. It's been a while since he raced over a trip as short as this and he could find himself tapped for toe this evening. Smokey The Bear has been running really well this winter and ran another blinder when going down narrowly to Waterside last time. He may have been flattered to finish so close to a rival rated in the high nineties but looks more than capable of chasing Champagne Shadow home tonight.
Smokey The Bear 16-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 6, 1/2l behind Waterside (9-7) at Kempton 1m 2f clm (6) pol in Jan.
George Henson (IRE) 9-2 (8-1) Steadied start, held up in rear, ridden over 4f out, no impression over 2f out, 7th of 9, 8l behind Mixing (8-9) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
Safe Investment (USA) 33-1 (9-6) Towards rear, ridden well over 2f out, no impression final 2f, 6th of 9, 8l behind Steely Dan (9-6) at Kempton 1m 3f clm (6) pol in Jan.
Champagne Shadow (IRE) 4-6fav (9-3) Held up, driven 6f out, switched right and headway over 4f out, led over 2f out, soon clear, easily, won at W'hampton 1m 6f sll (6) pol in Jan beating Perfect Storm (8-10) by 6l, 9 ran.
Critical Stage (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Led for 2f, stayed prominent, chased leader over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 22l behind Up In Arms (9-1) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.