tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden and some progress when rider lost whip over 2f out
held up, rapid headway on inside over 1f out, not reached winner
towards rear, ridden 2f out, stayed on
in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
led, ridden 2f out ,headed well inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, led well inside final furlong, kept on
slowly into stride, soon in touch, weakened approaching final furlong
towards rear, headway over 1f out, keeping on when not clear run approaching final furlong, not recover
in touch, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
DUKE OF MILAN is our idea of the winner with Hennessy Island and Billy Hot Rocks rated as the alternatives. Duke Of Milan is not the performer he once was but he is running well at his respective level and has a decent draw this afternoon to exploit. Hennessy Island is tried in first time cheekpieces. He is yet to race at this circuit so it remains to be seen as to whether he'll enjoy racing this way around. Billy Hot Rocks won his first outing for Gay Kelleway having left Ralph Beckett. The form of his recent run behind C'Mon You Irons was given a boost on Friday afternoon. Charming Escort did not get a clear run here on his latest visit so that form can be safely ignored. Langham House landed a shock at 20/1 in December and is unlikely to be those odds today. Thabaat was backed into favouritism in a similarly weak event earlier in the week and has it to prove. Duke Of Milan gets the nod.
Mistress Cooper 8-1 (8-13) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, stayed on, not trouble leaders, 4th of 11, 4l behind River Kirov (9-1) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Dec.
Billy Hot Rocks (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, close up on inside, driven into 3rd over 1f out, until no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind C'Mon You Irons (9-0) at Lingfield 6f sll (6) pol in Dec.
Duke Of Milan (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, switched right and ran on inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Namu (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Valentino Swing (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Dwelt in mid-division, ridden over 2f, switched right and soon beaten, 7th of 14, 10l behind Ugenius (9-1) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec.
Hennessy Island (USA) 6-5fav (9-2) Steadied start, held up in rear, hung right over 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, never near leaders, 5th of 10, 6l behind Norcroft (9-0) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec.
Langham House 20-1 (9-3) Raced keenly in touch, chased leader 4f out, led over 2f out, stayed on gamely final furlong, driven out, won at Kempton 7f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Dec beating Dark Camellia (8-12) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Liberty Valance (IRE) 7-1 (8-6) Held up in rear, headway on inside when not clear run 1f out, not recover, 7th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Balata (8-13) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Downhill Skier (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Raced keenly, led, ridden over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 14l behind Plush (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Charming Escort 6-1 (8-12) In touch, lost place over 3f out, headway over 1f out, never able to challenge, 6th of 10, 6l behind Lopinot (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Bold Diva 8-1 (9-1) Steadied start, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 9, 3l behind Whiskey Creek (9-1) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Thabaat 5-1fav (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 4th of 13, 1l behind Street Power (9-0) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol.
