held up in 4th, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, soon ridden, ran on inside final furlong, joined winner inside final 100 yards, just failed
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, soon chased leaders, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, no impression with front pair inside final 100 yards
tracked leader 7f, remained close up in 3rd, driven over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
tracked front pair, switched outside to press winner after 7f, effort 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
made all, quickened over 3f out, ridden, over 1f out, stayed on under pressure when hard pressed and edged left inside final 100 yards, just held on
NonRunner
Watersmeet won last year’s renewal and beat Higher Power over track and trip when scoring again here in November. But he found GREY BRITAIN (NAP) too good on level terms over 2m at Lingfield at the start of this month and there looks plenty more to come from John Ryan’s charge over today’s distance. Spark Plug won a Listed contest over 1m4f here in December but is penalised for that success and has yet to race over this far while both Redicean and Stamford Raffles have plenty to find at the weights on today’s terms.
Spark Plug (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Raced wide, held up, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, led entering final furlong, ran on, won at Kempton 1m 4f lst stks (1) pol in Dec beating Verdana Blue (9-1) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Grey Britain 7-4fav (9-5) Held up in rear, tracked front pair over 2f out, driven into 2nd over 1f out, soon ridden, led narrowly final 110 yards, kept on towards finish, won at Lingfield 2m stks (2) pol in Feb beating Watersmeet (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Higher Power 3-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Stargazer (9-3) at Newcastle 2m stks (2) pol in Dec.
Redicean 8-11fav (9-4) Tracked leaders, not much room when switched right over 1f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, unable to quicken towards finish, 4th of 6, 3/4l behind Soghan (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Jan.
Stamford Raffles 6-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, outpaced in 4th 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final 100 yards, went 2nd and gaining near finish, just held, 2nd of 4, nk behind West Coast Flyer (10-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Watersmeet 9-4 (9-5) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden 1f out, soon hard pressed, headed narrowly final 110 yards, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Grey Britain (9-5) at Lingfield 2m stks (2) pol in Feb.