towards rear, headway over 1f out, one pace when not much room inside final furlong
led, ridden over 1f out, headed close home
held up, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous
held up and keen, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and headway 1f out, stayed on to lead close home
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, one pace final furlong
held up in touch, weakened inside final furlong
held up mid-division, kept on final furlong
A competitive handicap and plenty with chances but our idea of the winner is BEST IN CLASS who can come home in front of Poyle Meg and Green Wadi. Stuart Williams' gelding is 7lbs higher than when winning over course and distance last time and steps up in class today. However, that performance looked very stylish and there were some solid yardsticks in behind so the improving three-year-old looks worth backing to follow up today under Dane O'Neill. Poyle Meg is a model of consistency and remains reasonably handicapped just 4lbs higher than when winning in this grade to starts ago. The filly has plenty of solid looking form and has been out of the first four just once in thirteen starts so will doubtless attract plenty of support and will surely run well. Green Wadi is another of interest having shown distinct promise over slightly further last time. That effort off the same mark as today's was all the more impressive considering the horse had been absent for over a year and providing the bounce factor doesn't come into play here Gary Moore's lightly raced four-year-old must be taken seriously. Rio Guru is a much better filly on the all-weather and so it's a surprise that this will be her first start of 2009 on an artificial surface. Nevertheless, the four-year-old looks well treated here off a mark 3lbs lower than when second at Lingfield around this time last year and has a solid each way chance as does Dinner Date who is up in class but races off just 2lbs higher than when winning last time out. Very few of these can be ruled out completely but Best In Class might be able to teach them all a thing or two.
Scamperdale 20-1 (8-2) Held up, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 18l behind Merchant Of Dubai (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
Mafeking (UAE) 7-2 (8-9) Tracking leader when pulled up 4f out, dismounted, in a race won by Bab Al Salam (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov, 7 ran.
Rio Guru (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along and headway 3f out, ridden to chase winner 1f out, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 13, 2l behind I'm In The Pink (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) hvy in Nov.
Hawaana (IRE) 10-1 (8-2) In rear, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, never a factor, 5th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Falcativ (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
December Draw (IRE) 3-1fav (9-3) Always towards rear, 9th of 10, 16l behind Mr Willis (8-13) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Addwaitya 11-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, led over 8f out, headed over 6f out, tracked leader, ridden 2f out, led just inside final furlong, soon headed, no extra, 5th of 7, 1/2l behind Black N Brew (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Indy Driver 8-1 (9-3) Dwelt, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on strongly well inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 10, hd behind Beauchamp Viceroy (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Poyle Meg 11-4fav (8-8) Held up, headway on wide outside approaching 2f out, led briefly well over 1f out, chased winner until inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Tinshu (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f Fillies Handicap (0-90) (3yo) (3) pol in Nov.
Green Wadi 10-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, surged along from 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Mildoura (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) std in Nov.
Best In Class 12-1 (9-0) Dwelt, held up in rear, good headway on outside over 1f out, strong run to lead inside final furlong, won going away, won at Kempton 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov beating Capeability (8-12) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Princess Lomi (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Keen hold, soon mid-division, progress from halfway, 4th before straight, ridden in 8th over 1f out, soon no impression, 9th of 14, 7l behind Dafarabad (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f app hcp 50-80 pol in Sep.
Dinner Date 11-4fav (8-10) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, led 1f out, driven and kept on final furlong, won at Kempton 1m app hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov beating Daniel Thomas (9-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Hurakan (IRE) 5-4fav (8-12) Tracked leaders early, steadied over 7f out, ridden, headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, driven, stayed on, 3rd of 7, nk behind Black N Brew (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
