tracked leader until over 10f out, remained in 3rd until pushed along 2f out, weakened and lost 4th towards finish
took keen hold, held up in last pair, good headway between horses tracking leaders over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden and stayed on, hung badly left inside final furlong, headed and no extra final strides
slowly away, raced keenly, held up in last pair, headway tracking leading pair after 4f, led over 9f out and soon clear, reduced lead over 3f out, headed and weakened over 2f out, soon behind, eased
led and set steady pace, headed over 9f out, chased clear leader, closed over 3f out, led again over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon lost 2nd, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong
tracked leading pair 4f, remained in 4th place, ridden and went 2nd approaching final furlong, stayed on inside final furlong, led final strides
MISS TIGER LILY stayed on strongly behind the hat-trick seeking Aurora Gray at Lingfield eight days ago and must have every chance of reversing that form here on 6lb better terms. El Campeon never threatened when tried over this trip at Lingfield and has not won off a mark this high. He did, however, finish ahead of Saborido, though the latter was in good form running off this mark over track and trip in August. Neither Winter Spice nor Wordiness have shown enough lately to suggest they’ll get involved.
Saborido (USA) 14-1 (9-10) Raced wide, tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 8, 10 1/4l behind Alfredo (9-13) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
El Campeon 8-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, stayed on, not trouble leaders, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Alfredo (9-13) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Winter Spice (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) In touch in rear, ridden 2f out, never near leaders, 4th of 6, 8 1/4l behind Alfredo (9-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Wordiness 14-1 (9-5) Raced keenly, tracked leader, ran wide entering straight, lost 2nd 3f out, weakened over 2f out, soon behind, 7th of 9, 18 3/4l behind Isharah (9-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Miss Tiger Lily 6-1 (9-13) In touch, headway on outer over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Aurora Gray (9-7) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Aurora Gray 5-4fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, headway on inner over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) pol in Jan beating Miss Tiger Lily (9-13) by 3/4l, 9 ran.