took keen hold, held up, in rear, smooth headway on outside over 2f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, ran on well, pushed out
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, headway on inside over 1f out, soon no impression
held up in 5th, looking for room from 2f out until stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, not troubled winner
held up in rear, struggling over 2f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, switched left and headway over 1f out, pressed for 2nd inside final furlong until one pace towards finish
took keen hold, tracked leaders, lost place when tightened up well over 1f out, soon weakened
led after 1f, made most after until ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
soon led, headed after 1f, with leader until ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, challenging 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
Nonrunner
LYTHAM rattled out a quick-fire hat-trick at this time last year and he won a a tad cosily a week ago; he is taken to see off Spanish Cross and Turkish Sultan in a tight opener. It must be interesting that Tony Carroll's gelding seems to peak at this time of year and this son of Spectrum is well-treated despite his 6lb winners penalty. He has another entry on Thursday and it would be no surprise were he to win this under decent jockey Amy Ryan. Andaman Sunset is 'thrown in' on his old form and he needs a market check for a shrewd yard, Hatch A Plan is wildly out of form, so of more interest is Spanish Cross after a break. Turkish Sultan is a bit hit-and-miss but he wasn't beaten far behind Lytham last time out and he is now just 2lb higher than when winning at Lingfield last month. Clerical and Ruwain both look handicapped to win races, but on recent form course winner Sir Haydn looks a more likely principle. This looks a very good chance for Lytham to win again.
Lytham (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, smooth headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, strongly pressed and driven out, won at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-50 (7) pol beating Dobravany (9-2) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Andaman Sunset 13-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 10l behind Winning Show (9-0) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Hatch A Plan (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Blindfold still on as stalls opened, went left at start, left many lenghts behind, latched on to rear of rest 8f out, ridden and struggling over 2f out, 12th of 13, 16l behind Lytham (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-50 (7) pol.
Spanish Cross (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, one pace, 4th of 13, 5l behind Bidable (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Nov.
Turkish Sultan (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Prominent, left chasing leader well over 7f out, ridden over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, lost 2 places close home, 5th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Lytham (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-50 (7) pol.
Clerical (USA) 16-1 (8-10) Prominent, ridden over 2f out weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 6l behind Stanley Goodspeed (8-13) at Lingfield 1m app hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Ruwain 12-1 (8-7) Soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 11l behind Bidable (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Nov.
Sir Haydn 5-1 (8-4) Took keen hold, held up in rear, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Lyrical Intent (8-8) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-52 (6) pol in Jan.
Easy Wonder (GER) 20-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, headway 4f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 12, 28l behind Jackie Kiely (10-10) at Southwell 1m 3f am hcp 0-55 (6) fbs.
Jiminor Mack 12-1 (8-7) Keen hold, chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, no impression final furlong, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Denton (9-6) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) gs in Aug.
